Italian legends Phaedra release new album "PTAh"

Phaedra, the Italian band fron Trento, finally release their debut album PTAh. The band, who were formed in 1993, started off as a progressive rock covers band, playing Geneis, Yes and Rush covers amongst others, before starting to write their own tunes, and releasing a self-produced demo CD,

In 2000, the band changed line-up and started working on this release. They first played it live in 2002, and has been honed live over the subsequent years, until the band reached the point where they thought they've got it to perfection.

More info can be found on the band on their website and their MySpace pages, and on the official press release below:

PRESS RELEASE

The long-lived band from Trento debuts with an ambitious concept album; a fantasy-fuelled and atmospheric progressive rock for the debut album by the seven-man band, successfully presented live

PTAH: man in this rock opera by Phaedra

PHAEDRA MUSIC
is proud to present:

PTAH
...the rock opera by Phaedra...

Phaedra Music 2010
14 songs, 75 minutes

Officially presented on Saturday 19th of June 2010 in Pergine Valsugana (Trento) during a very crowded showcase, PTAH has been released; it is a rock opera by Phaedra, a long-lived band from the Trento area finally releasing their debut album. PTAH is an ambitious rock opera, the fruit of a ten-year work of writing and refining: the lyrics, written by the vocalist Claudio Granatiero, are inspired by mythology and science fiction, but the main theme of the opera are man and existential issues.

Fans of the best progressive rock, Phaedra were founded in 1993 and their history is focussed on the long work towards the completion of their ambitoous opera, PTAH. Thanks to it, presented live in 2002 at the 10th edition of the Concentratissimo Rock competition organised by the Trento Province, they won the competition as the Best Original Band. Following the best ‘60s and ’70s rock tradition, Phaedra kept presenting their PTAH project live throughout the years, observing how the audience reacted to it and retouching it every time until they reached the final version.

Written by Claudio Bonvecchio and Stefano Gasperetti and arranged by the band, PTAH is a fascinating and evocative album within the big progressive rock tradition. The Trento band has many inspirations, from Vanilla Fudge and Moody Blues to Genesis, Yes and King Crimson through Italian names such as Le Orme and PFM. Tastefully arranged with the addition of acoustic and classic instruments (violins, flute, mandola, mandolin and others), the work of the seven-members band deserves a careful, participated listening to notice suggestions, tones, instrumental themes and the whole evolution of the concept.

Phaedra will keep presenting their opera in a live concert context and are presently working on a Flower Kings tribute record for Colossus Magazine.

Lyrics and libretto: Claudio Granatiero Music: Stefano Gasperetti and Claudio Bonvecchio Arrangements: Phaedra