DESERT BUTTERFLIES

When Yossi Sassi released his debut solo album "Melting Clocks" in 2012 he was still a part of ORPHANED LAND. But after their "All Is One" album from 2013 Yossi left ORPHANED LAND to pursue his solo career. So "Desert Butterflies" is his second solo record but first after leaving Israel's best Metal band. Sassi combines that Middle East sound with rock and other styles. Lots of ethnic instruments on display here.

This is a five piece band and this same band would be part of his next record "Roots And Roads". We get around 11 guests adding vocals and instruments, including Ron Thal(Bumblefoot) and Marty Friedman(MEGADETH). This is a beautiful album filled with stringed instruments from all over the world. It's pretty cool to really listen to this album. Yossi has had this fixation with Oriental music as his latest three solo albums feature the Oriental Rock Orchestra. And we got some of that as well on ORPHANED LAND's "Mabool" plus the opener here is called "Orient Sun".

This is a consistent album with maybe a couple of misses for me, but man so many highs, I really think you could flip a coin between this one and his next one which is heavier. So many great tracks on this one including that opener "Orient Sun" and that uplifting sound. This was like meeting an old friend every time I spun that first track. My favourite on here. Not a lot of vocals on this record but we get some guest female vocals on "Believe" which is a nice song plus Yossi sings on "Cocoon" the second last tune which should have been the closer. The closer "Palm Tree Road" is so mellow and acoustic that it ends the album in a sedate manner in my opinion.

That second song "Fata Morgana" is such an ethnic sounding piece that just makes me happy. Some brief heaviness before 3 minutes with some nasty guitar. A rare thing on this album. "Neo Quest" is so uplifting and we get some space here which I like. "Azadi" sounds like Arabian music. Beautiful with lots of piano. Sounds like female vocal melodies too. The first song that sounds different is the title track where it sounds like a theme for a 60's spy movie contrasted with another theme more in tune with the rest of the album. A nice change here.

"Inner Oasis" is really good too, some gorgeous guitar and sounds here. The rest of the way is hit and miss but this is a strong recording that has an incredible first half. Easily 4 stars and I highly recommend this along with his next record "Roots And Roads".

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