Höstsonaten
Autumnsymphony

"Autumnsymphony" is the second part of the seasonal cycle, which began in 2002 with the release of the album "Springsong" and continued in 2008 with "Winterthrough", which are the fourth and third parts respectively. The Hӧstsonaten, led as always by the excellent and creative Genoese bassist Fabio Zuffanti, manage to create yet again, as with the previous ones, a work of progressive rock with jazz and classical influences, where dreamy atmospheres perfectly fit into darker and more melancholic scenarios. 
 
"Open Windows To Autumn", the robust notes of a pulsating bass introduce us to the autumn atmosphere, accompanied by the trumpet and a light, dreamy flute, as we venture supported by an electronic background of keyboards and mellotron, a callback to those typically progressive atmospheres of the seventies. "Leaves in The Well" introduces alongside an acoustic guitar arpeggio the electric guitar of Matteo Nahum, which clears and sweeps away the previous sweet and dreamy atmospheres, presenting us with a swirling and hard solo. However, this atmosphere is destined to last only for the duration of a track because already in the next one, the harshness of the tones is only a memory; "Out Of Water" astonishes with its orchestral arrangements, baroque, and refined arrangements accompanied by a background of piano and drums that slowly flow into an almost free jazz solo, only to then abandon again to the sweet notes of the flute. 
 
"Nightswan I", the electronics loudly claim their place in the album and finally take over, gifting us an alienating, suspended atmosphere where only a continuous and soft tinkling of bells seems to survive along with Zuffanti's bass notes, introducing "Nightswan II" characterized also by a typically prog atmosphere, with the flute fleeing away, chased by electric guitar solos and an ever-present drum before fading again into the trumpet of "As The Night Gives Birth To The Morning", a track that, along with the subsequent "Trees In November", distances itself further from rock atmospheres to embrace an engaging jazz full of pathos until the unexpected arrival into our ears of the voice of Simona Angioloni (along with Zuffanti also in the Aries project), a distant, delicate voice on soft piano notes, a pleasant surprise in a work that is entirely instrumental. In truth, Simona Angioloni's voice fits perfectly into the soundscape created by Hostsonaten, almost as if it were an instrument, gently shaping itself over the piano notes and contributing to a crescendo of tension and emotions for the last track, "Autumn's Last Breath - The Gates Of Winter". 

And it is precisely from the title of the track that it is inferred that the last autumn breath is near, winter is near, the cold is near, and even more so the melancholy well represented by the violin and piano notes at the beginning of the track. However, the end of the album is not entrusted to the notes of an instrument but to a phrase that encapsulates the meaning of the entire track more than all possible notes: "The day is not yet over, but the end is here before me..."
 
This is how the Hӧstsonaten conclude the second part of the musical cycle dedicated to the seasons. The album is ultimately pleasant, different as always from previous works, this highlighting how Fabio Zuffanti can be rightly considered one of the most creative and talented personalities in the Italian music scene, able to range from typically progressive rock works (early Finisterre and Maschera di Cera) to works where electronic and jazz but also classical influences are more prominently felt and appreciated. 
 
Ultimately the Hӧstsonaten, the musicians involved, in addition to Fabio Zuffanti on bass, keyboards, and guitar, are Carlo Barreca (stick bass), Federico Foglia (drums), Pietro Martinelli (double bass), Matteo Nahum (guitars), Marco Moro (flute), Pietro Berbabei (trumpet), Robbo Vigo (piano), Osvaldo Loi (viola, violin), Giacomo Villa (cello), Andrea Benassi (oboe), Simona Angioloni (voice), amaze and delight once more and above all still manage to move, so if this kind of music speaks directly to your heart, do not wait, listen and you will be satisfied,Zuffanti's music is ever more lively and always has interesting and fascinating things to say.