SPRINGSONG

'Springsong' is the fourth and last part of H'stonaten's cycle of the seasons although it was the first to be released. In fact, it was originally released in 2002 on the independent label Sublime. In 2009 it was remixed, restyled and re-released on AMS/BTF with a different art cover by Davide Guidoni. Along with composer and producer Fabio Zuffanti (acoustic guitars, bass) here the other musicians involved in the project are Francesca Biagini (flute), Sergio Caputo (violin, percussion), Federico Foglia (drums, percussion), Agostino Macor (piano, mellotron, hammond, moog), Stefano Marelli (acoustic and electric guitars), Edmondo Romano (recorders, bagpipes, sax), Boris Valle (piano) and Robbo Vigo (piano). The musical colours of the spring are rendered with a strong folkloric touch and melodic freshness.

The opener 'In The Open Fields' begins with the same arpeggio which closed 'Winterthrough', then the sound of a flute evokes a pastoral, peaceful atmosphere. With 'Kemper ' Springtheme' we go back in Brittany, where our journey through time and nature began and in Quimper now we can breathe the fresh air of spring. 'Living Stone And 1st Reprise' is dreamy and full of melody while on the evocative 'She Sat Writing Letters On The Riverbanks' we meet again the poetry of Arseny Tarkovsky... 'Your eyelids, brushed with blue, were peaceful and your hand was warm / And in the crystal I saw pulsing rivers, smoke-wreathed hills, and glimmering seas / Holding in your palm that crystal sphere, you slumbered on the throne, and - God be praised! - you belonged to me / Awaking, you transformed the humdrum dictionary of humans / Till speech was full and running over with resounding strength, and the word you revealed its new meaning: it meant tsar...'. 'The Underwater And 2nd Reprise' begins with a touch of jazz and a darker mood, then an electric guitar solo breaks in as a sunray through the clouds leading to the reflective 'Lowtide'. 'The Wood Is Alive With The Smell Of The Rain' begins with a renaissance flavour, then keyboards and guitar lines take you back from dream to reality and you are ready to merrily dance in the following 'Evocation Of Spring In A Fastdance'. The long, complex 'Toward The Sea' closes the season's cycle. It's a suite in four parts where you can appreciate the reprise of some themes. A wonderful grand finale!

The 2009 re-issue of this album features also a bonus track, 'Suite Bretonne'. It's a piece in three parts for acoustic, classical and 12 strings guitars that was composed and recorded in late 1998. According to Fabio Zuffanti it was the starting point of the whole cycle of albums since after a few months this piece evolved into 'Springsong'...