HÖSTSONATEN

Hostsonaten was technically the title of this album by the Finisterre project, but because Fabio Zuffante produced two followups, it became the "band"'s name. Not surprisingly, this is the one that sounds most like Finisterre. It does favour some of the pastoral elements that feature more prominently in "Mirrorgames" and especially "Springsong", but also the long drawn out and stormy epic direction of Finisterre. This album is dominated by one sprawling 41 minute track that threatens to, and in some sense does, consume itself.

Make no mistake, the "Hostsonaten" suite contains passages of grand symphonic beauty, but it feels more like a suite of disjointed segments or varying quality than a master work, and Zuffante's vocals are very nearly atonal, whispered and ephemeral. Like Zuffante's more recent Aries project, it is neither fish nor fowl, and has certain tendencies towards harshness that do not sit well with the overall musical concept. It's not bad, especially the first half, and some might really like it, but I give fair warning.

"Remembering You" is, on the other hand, a great track in which all folky instrumentation, classic prog arrangements, and even Zuffante's vocals are used to best effect. But then "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" relies a bit too much on Zuffante's voice and possesses other characteristics in common with the first track.

I am indeed glad that this project got off the ground...on the next album. 2.5 stars rounded down because only one of the three tracks is all good.