ARIA

A half-Italian,half-Welsh artist from Naples,ALAN SORRENTI was born on 9th November 1950 in Naples,but had spent years of his childhood in Wales.He is mostly known for his more commercial efforts close to disco music,however he started as a pure rock/prog artist in early-70's,who's albums were quite unique-sounding.The first of them was released in 1972 on Harvest,later succeeded several re-issues.On ''Aria'' SORRENTI is supported by numerous well-known musicians,among them are famous violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and great drummer Tony Esposito,an important figure of the Italian jazz/rock scene of the 70's.

The album consists of an eponymous dark soft suite on side A,while on side B there are three shorter tracks.Definitely the 19-min. ''Aria'' is the darkest and most experimental of all tracks.The pastoral musicianship surrounds the vocal experiments of SORRENTI's unique voice.Wordless weird vocal acrobatics blend with ethereal harmonies and chords to present SORRENTI's wide range of singing.The music is rather calm yet with a haunting feeling,based on the light keyboard work,mostly organ, the pastoral acoustic guitars and the excellent violin work of Ponty.Quite different and comparable only with PETER HAMMILL's solo works.Side B opens with ''Vorei inconrtarti'',a typical singer/song-writer ballad with only acoustic guitars and some accordion,but an emotional SORRENTI makes it sound really beautiful.''La mia fente'' follows and the musicianship gets closer to VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR with maybe DEMETRIO STRATOS on vocals.Heavy acoustic doses mixed with trumpets and piano,featuring the most experimental vocal exercise of the album.The closer ''Un fiume tranquilo'' is even closer to PETER HAMMILL with SORRENTI adding a little harmony and more depth in his voice,while musically the track offers lots of soft keys ((even some effects),supported by trumpets,trombones and a smooth rhythm section.

''Aria'' deserves to be listened by anyone,who wants to name himself a progressive rock fan.However it won't be everybody's taste.Propably fans of FRANCO BATTIATO, DEMETRIO STRATOS, PETER HAMMILL and even VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR will find it more than rewarding.For the rest,prepare yourselves for some realaxed yet deep and experimental experience.