The Garden of the Hesperides is the debut album by Hexperos, the new Gothic/Neo-Classical project by the soprano Alessandra Santovito, founding member of Gothica.

The exotic Mediterranean fragrance of sensual percussion patterns, together with the low rumble of Francesco's double bass and the soft keyboard pads enriched by the work of violinists Domenico Mancini and Alessandro Pensa, set the appropriate nocturnal atmosphere for Alessandra's soaring voice to cast its spell - although Hexperos often brings to mind her past in Gothica, it is also obvious that her work has now reached a more mature stage.

Instrumentation and arrangements are often minimal throughout the songs, but skillfully mastered to balance grandiose dramatic moments against delicate passages, sparsely colored with a discreet Celtic tone that finds its way into some of tracks much through the contribution of harpist Francesca Romana Di Nicola.

This seemingly ethereal touch is nevertheless ineffective in dispelling the predominantly somber quality of the album. In fact, much of the mood that The Garden of the Hesperides evokes can be compared to what one may find in Classical chamber music, yet it has been quite a few years since such ambiance has been so impressively comprised into a Gothic Neo-Classical album, and so perfectly used to display such mysterious sensuality and romance. A remarkable debut, which easily deserves a place alongside the best works from acts such as Arcana, Ophelia's Dream or Sopor Aeternus. Presented in spot UV-varnished Digipak.