ANDREA PARODI & AL DI MEOLA: MIDSUMMER NIGHT IN SARDINIA- ARMENTOS

For who hasn't heard of Andrea Parodi before, he was the lead singer of a folk-pop group (Tazenda) that had a brief moment of success in Italy in the early 90s. His unique voice and the folk themes sung in Sardinian make him more belonging to world music. In this album Al di meola rediscovers the european and mainly Spanish influences that are very evident on Friday Night in SF. The quality of the recording, taking into account that it's a live album, is excellent and remarkable.

"Amargura" is a Sardinian folk song acccompanied by the classical flamenco-stylish guitar and sung by Sandra Ligas (uncredited) together with Andrea. "Umbras" is a jazz-folk piece, full of unusual passages, changes in tempo and tonality. For jazz-prog lovers and not only. a 5-stars track.

"Creation" starts with percussions and classical (ovation?) guitar in the usual Di Meola's high standards. Friday Night is still a good reference. Vocalisms join the two instruments after a couple of minutes, also to give Al the possibility to change sound. I think there's also a sitar but it might be one of the many Sardinian traditional instrument that are played on this track.

"Efix" is a false traditional. The arrangement is still very jazzy, even if launeddas give it a traditional accent. The central part made of percussions and guitar is quite similar to Creation then falls back into traditional Sardinian when Andrea restarts singing on a base of percussions and launeddas.

Nothing to say about "The sound of silence". Everybody knows it. Of course it's arranged. The lyrics are translated/rewritten in Sardinian (I can't guess it's an exact translation). Unusual.

"La Mazza" is, I think, a Spanish song. At least the lyrics are in Spanish and this fits well into Al's guitar playing. Sardinian has Spanish roots so Andrea's voice is very appropriate.

"Armentos" starts with a long melodic intro of classical guitar followed by percussions, launeddas and I think an alto sax as lead instrument until the singing starts. Mainly a new- age song.

"No Potho Reposare" (I can't rest) is a Tazenda love song that's here arranged for guitar and voice only. Impressive.

"Astrolicamus" is a jazzy tango that reminds to Astor Piazzolla (Al di Meola has published an album of Piazzolla covers, too).

If this wasn't PA, I would have rated this album with 5 stars, but this is not properly prog so even if I strongly recommend it for who loves good music in general, I rate it only 4.