ARIA

Alan Sorrenti's vocals will decide on whether you will love or hate this album. Sorrenti along with Peter Hammill, Robert Wyatt and Demetrio Stratus seem to have that affect on people. I was surprised to see a lot of low ratings on some sites for this record but maybe I shouldn't have been. I had this cd on last week at work and one lady said "John what are you listening to !?" As it says in the liner notes Alan's "voice mutates into a musical instrument. Words are gently warbled, carressed, cosseted, vibratoed and violent expunged". Yes he gets crazy and theatrical at times (haha). Some have desribed "Aria" as a Psychedelic Folk album, which I think is a good description. Jean-Luc Ponty guests on this album too which is pretty cool.

"Aria" opens with the sound of the wind blowing as acoustic guitar comes in gently. Spacey sounds then vocals after 1 1/2 minutes. Organ,piano and bass help out as vocals and that spacey soundscape continue. He's getting theatrical as cymbals arrive then violin from Jean- Luc Ponty. Check out the violin and vocals around 6 minutes. Nice. It settles before 8 minutes but vocals and violin continue. A change before 10 minutes as the tempo picks up with strummed guitar and passionate vocals. It calms down a minute later, it's kind of eerie here. Some synth harp follows then we get this Spanish vibe after 13 minutes. Violin is back 15 minutes in with mellotron flooding in a minute later. Trumpet is back 17 minutes in before strummed guitar and violin come in late as vocals continue.

"Vorrei In Contrarti" opens with gentle guitar and fragile vocals. Some vocal melodies follow and then the accordion comes in. Whistling 4 1/2 minutes in to end it. "La Mia Mente" opens with strummed guitar, bass and vocals. Mellotron comes in, keyboards follow. Horns 5 1/2 minutes in then some crazy vocals a minute later. This is avant-garde folks. "Un Fiume Tranquillo" opens with the birds singing followed by the sound of running water. Vocals and a fuller sound follow. Check out the vocals 3 minutes in. Strummed guitar, drums and trumpet a minute later then the vocals return. Then the sounds of birds chirping return and just when you think it's over, it ends in a very psychedelic way with trumpet, synths, vocal expressions and other sounds.

Easily 4 stars. I don't think i'll forget the vocals of Alan Sorrenti any time soon.