Al Di Meola - Twentyfour
Acclaimed American guitarist Al Di Meola, whose solo albums of the 1970s and work with Return to Forever pointed to a true pioneer and an inspiration for a generation of shredders, has more lately been in an acoustic, Latin jazz/ flamenco frame of musical mind.
2018’s Opus, Di Meola's previous album of original material (2020’s Across The Universe was his second volume of tastefully interpreted Beatles covers) married delicate acoustic tracks with fuller sounding acoustic-electric numbers and lovely long-form piece 'Ava’s Dream Sequence Lullaby.'
Latest album Twentyfour follows a similar musical path, but it’s also an album that has greatly expanded, in creative and compositional terms, from its original concept.
Conceived during the 2020 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, what started as a relatively simple acoustic project by Al Di Meola (partly inspired by the challenges of those difficult times), the compositions slowly but assuredly formed into something far grander and more exploratory across four years of time, 15 tracks and eighty minutes of music.
The album opens with angular acoustic guitar number 'Fandango,' which relies on dissonance for effect.
The accompanying rhythm parts of this innovative fusion piece include a tabla, which enhances the definite Indian influence, harking back to Di Meola's World Sinfonia recordings.
The Mediterranean influenced 'Tears of Hope,' which follows, features melodic acoustic guitar with brass (keys) accentuations, percussive rhythm section and an electric guitar sequence toward song’s end, making it reminiscent of the Cielo e Terra era of Di Meola’s output.
'Esmeralda' is a rhythmic acoustic number that features three guitar parts, recalling the legendary Di Meola-McLaughlin-De Lucia Friday Night in San Francisco live recording, except with Di Meola contributing all guitar parts.
Unlike the first two numbers, which sit comfortably at over seven-minutes long, the acoustic guitar and flamenco rhythms of 'Capriccio Suite,' overstays its seven-and-a-half minutes welcome (it would have held more interest and made more impact as a tighter/ shorter piece).
The beautifully arranged and delightfully performed 'Ava’s Dance in the Moonlight' however, is worth every second of its eight minutes.
There are some gorgeous and innovative ideas going on in this number, including more orchestration on keys, a sympathetic rhythm accompaniment and melodic electric guitar, which provides interesting counterpoint to the orchestration. A sequel of sorts to the aforementioned 'Ava’s Dream Sequence Lullaby,' this is a true highlight, and a reminder of just why Al Di Meola was so influential.
2018’s Opus, Di Meola's previous album of original material (2020’s Across The Universe was his second volume of tastefully interpreted Beatles covers) married delicate acoustic tracks with fuller sounding acoustic-electric numbers and lovely long-form piece 'Ava’s Dream Sequence Lullaby.'
Latest album Twentyfour follows a similar musical path, but it’s also an album that has greatly expanded, in creative and compositional terms, from its original concept.
Conceived during the 2020 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, what started as a relatively simple acoustic project by Al Di Meola (partly inspired by the challenges of those difficult times), the compositions slowly but assuredly formed into something far grander and more exploratory across four years of time, 15 tracks and eighty minutes of music.
The album opens with angular acoustic guitar number 'Fandango,' which relies on dissonance for effect.
The accompanying rhythm parts of this innovative fusion piece include a tabla, which enhances the definite Indian influence, harking back to Di Meola's World Sinfonia recordings.
The Mediterranean influenced 'Tears of Hope,' which follows, features melodic acoustic guitar with brass (keys) accentuations, percussive rhythm section and an electric guitar sequence toward song’s end, making it reminiscent of the Cielo e Terra era of Di Meola’s output.
'Esmeralda' is a rhythmic acoustic number that features three guitar parts, recalling the legendary Di Meola-McLaughlin-De Lucia Friday Night in San Francisco live recording, except with Di Meola contributing all guitar parts.
Unlike the first two numbers, which sit comfortably at over seven-minutes long, the acoustic guitar and flamenco rhythms of 'Capriccio Suite,' overstays its seven-and-a-half minutes welcome (it would have held more interest and made more impact as a tighter/ shorter piece).
The beautifully arranged and delightfully performed 'Ava’s Dance in the Moonlight' however, is worth every second of its eight minutes.
There are some gorgeous and innovative ideas going on in this number, including more orchestration on keys, a sympathetic rhythm accompaniment and melodic electric guitar, which provides interesting counterpoint to the orchestration. A sequel of sorts to the aforementioned 'Ava’s Dream Sequence Lullaby,' this is a true highlight, and a reminder of just why Al Di Meola was so influential.
The three-part 'Immeasurable' (including a ten-minute Part 1), highlights and underlines just what an accomplished acoustic guitarist Al Di Meola is.
The guitar play, which ranges from plaintive and melodic to deceptively intricate, is exceptional, but the rhythm parts utilised may well be obtrusive for the acoustic purist.
Acoustic ballad 'Eden,' which features Al Di Meola on Hermanos Conde flamenco guitar and a dovetailing vocal performance from Siuxx (aka Spanish singer/ musician/ producer Ivan Lopez), reminds of 1985’s Soaring Through a Dream, one of the most successful albums of Di Meola’s long and storied solo career.
Beautifully recorded and the only track on the album with vocals, 'Eden' tells the story of missing someone dearly and the sense of incompleteness without them.
'Close Your Eyes' opens with a programmed drum beat that gives way to an impressive acoustic chord sequence, which in turn develops toward another impressive melody part accompanied by keyboards and bass guitar. Another album highlight.
'Paradox of Puppets' opens with acoustic and progresses towards a lo-fi drum part before an electric guitar steps in to indulge in some call & answer with the acoustic.
A bass guitar then contributes sparingly as the song heads toward a conclusion, with some synth parts effectively included in the outro. Yet another highlight.
Delicate solo acoustic number 'For Only You' then drops the intensity before 'Genetiki' kicks things back up a notch with a repeating electric guitar motif and beat percussion before electric solo parts duet, and interplay with, the acoustic.
Penultimate track 'Testament' starts with acoustic before incorporating melodic electric guitar, understated drum part and percussion. Keys then contribute to emphasise the melodic content of a number that bears repeated listens.
'Precocious' closes out the album with an intro of acoustic parts along with percussive elements including, again, tabla. Here however the piece retains its flamenco/ Latino flavour.
In September 2023 Al Di Meola suffered a heart attack while performing on stage in Bucharest.
As part of his recovery, he took time off from live performances; but there was good news in January of this year when he returned to the stage.
Further good news is the fact that Twentyfour unequivocally proves Al Di Meola has not lost any of his compositional craft or revered six-string skills.
Nelson McFarlane & Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
The guitar play, which ranges from plaintive and melodic to deceptively intricate, is exceptional, but the rhythm parts utilised may well be obtrusive for the acoustic purist.
Acoustic ballad 'Eden,' which features Al Di Meola on Hermanos Conde flamenco guitar and a dovetailing vocal performance from Siuxx (aka Spanish singer/ musician/ producer Ivan Lopez), reminds of 1985’s Soaring Through a Dream, one of the most successful albums of Di Meola’s long and storied solo career.
Beautifully recorded and the only track on the album with vocals, 'Eden' tells the story of missing someone dearly and the sense of incompleteness without them.
'Close Your Eyes' opens with a programmed drum beat that gives way to an impressive acoustic chord sequence, which in turn develops toward another impressive melody part accompanied by keyboards and bass guitar. Another album highlight.
'Paradox of Puppets' opens with acoustic and progresses towards a lo-fi drum part before an electric guitar steps in to indulge in some call & answer with the acoustic.
A bass guitar then contributes sparingly as the song heads toward a conclusion, with some synth parts effectively included in the outro. Yet another highlight.
Delicate solo acoustic number 'For Only You' then drops the intensity before 'Genetiki' kicks things back up a notch with a repeating electric guitar motif and beat percussion before electric solo parts duet, and interplay with, the acoustic.
Penultimate track 'Testament' starts with acoustic before incorporating melodic electric guitar, understated drum part and percussion. Keys then contribute to emphasise the melodic content of a number that bears repeated listens.
'Precocious' closes out the album with an intro of acoustic parts along with percussive elements including, again, tabla. Here however the piece retains its flamenco/ Latino flavour.
In September 2023 Al Di Meola suffered a heart attack while performing on stage in Bucharest.
As part of his recovery, he took time off from live performances; but there was good news in January of this year when he returned to the stage.
Further good news is the fact that Twentyfour unequivocally proves Al Di Meola has not lost any of his compositional craft or revered six-string skills.
Nelson McFarlane & Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ