KUBLAI

ACCORDO DEI CONTRARI's debut was a well done all-instrumental Jazz / Fusion album. I mentioned in my review of it that it didn't blow me away or anything but felt it was worth a low 4 stars. Well these young Italians have stepped up their game and they even got Richard Sinclair (CARAVAN) to sing on one track.

"G.B. Evidence" opens with everything sounding so crisp and precise.The organ joins in around a minute then the tempo picks up 2 1/2 minutes in. Check out the drums and guitar ! Organ 3 minutes in as it trades off with the guitar.

"Arabesque" opens with atmosphere and picked acoustic guitar.This has an East Indian vibe to it. It doesn't kick in until before 4 minutes as that ethnic vibe continues. Some organ floats in after 5 minutes. A calm after 7 minutes as we get a similar sound to the intro then the drums come in and pound after 9 minutes. Electric piano comes in as well.Intense and incredible. The tension lifts before 11 minutes then the tempo picks up to end it.

"Dark Magus" opens with a gong then it kicks in hard before it settles back to a jazzy mode. It becomes intense before 2 minutes with organ then settles back as the contrasts continue. Nasty organ runs before 5 minutes followed by synths then guitar as they trade off. A dark atmosphere before 8 1/2 minutes to end it.

"L'Ombra Di Un Sogno" is where Richard Sinclair sings and man everytime I hear this he reminds me of Robert Wyatt. A beat and electric piano help out in this laid back tune. It becomes more powerful after 2 1/2 minutes with drums and guitar. Nice.Vocal expressions after 5 minutes. "Piu Limpida I Chiara..." has a powerful intro with some fillthy organ runs. How good is this ! The guitar is crying out after 1 1/2 minutes then the tempo picks up. Kicking ass and taking names right here people. It settles back before 3 minutes but it does kick back into gear one more time to end it.

"Battery Park" opens with piano as drums then guitar join in.The drums and piano standout the most here as the guitar comes and goes.The bass is quite chunky as well.

In my opinion there's a lot more character to this album and they've mixed things up more, and on top of all that they increased the power. It all adds up to this being a very solid 4 stars and one I highly recommend.