THE SECRET DISCLOSED

The symphonic (instrumental only) epic journey of Mariano Sebastian Rodrí­guez continues undaunted in this sophomore instalment of his solo project One. With a more polished sound production perhaps, but remaining true to the alternately dense or austere polyphony that we get to know in his debut. In that alternation, and in the fresh impact of the new melodic material, resides the artist's renewed ability to engage the listener from start to end.

As a prominent trait separating this album from its predecessor, I think the greater and now more continuous presence of the electric guitar is to be noted, with the consequent broadening of the textural range, and a certain displacement of the overall sound towards the rocking edge of the prog-rock spectrum (listen, for example, the guitar licks at the beginning of the track 8, Night Star). Mariano, however, is not resigning any of the introspective depths that are always so attractive in his music. In that sense, I had to mention at least two tracks: 3. Memory of a New Day, where the warm sound of the acoustic piano extends an open invitation to a close, yet immersive listen, with the particular vibration of the piano strings reaching both body and ears in a restrained and sensible performance. And in 9. Autumn Leaves, the acoustic guitar leads the proceedings, starting with a minimal chord sequence, going then for a progressively more convoluted development, an interlude with ethnic folk sounds (taken from the Andean plateau), and flowing after that into a synth climax that leads finally to an acoustic recapitulation.

There is also in this second album a greater presence of well-known sonic references, like the beginning of track 7. Diamond Heart, so reminiscent of Tangerine Dream's Atem. Nevertheless, is the composer who places the reference, and continues from there his own path, without being driven by the external motiv beyond its first utterance.

An excellent recording, full of the palpitating symphonic sound iniciated with the debut, but also including some new overtones, like the tragical pathos in 4. War & Peace.