AL DI MEOLA PROJECT: TIRAMI SU

I have to admit that I hadn't listened to this one in quite a while (not having a working turntable for years is the primary reason), but this album is better than I remember it being. Obviously, I have the LP version, which only includes the first eight tracks that apparently are on the CD.

Beijing Demons starts the album well. Although it is too light to really qualify as demonic, it is actually very complex, and Di Meola was wise to open the album with this winner. Arabella begins as a typical Spanish-based piece, but by the end becomes an electric fusion extravaganza. Smile From A Stranger is a slow romantic piece, not really my style, and Rhapsody Of Fire finishes off the side with some fine acoustic Spanish guitar (however it does have that awful synthesized harmonica synth sound that permeated commercial fusion in those days).

Song To The Pharoah Kings starts off the second side with the first full electric fusion song on the album. While not as exciting as the better Return To Forever songs, it's still good. Andonea, a Spanish sounding guitar and vocal piece is nice background music for dinner parties. And Maraba is purely Spanish, but not bad. Song With A View begins as another Spanish sounding piece, but builds to a great, and surprisingly subtle guitar solo by the end.

So there is some great music, but mostly nice, but low-key Spanish light fusion.

I'd give it three stars.