SPLENDIDO HOTEL

Along with « Elegant gypsy » and « Casino », « Splendido Hotel » represents Meola's music at its best with a colourful sound, a melodic blend of Latin music and fusion jazz. However this one stays the least inspired from what I call the "trilogy"; there is an overused of soft, light and old dated synth arrangements here (notably the second part of the album). "Alien Chase On Arabian Desert" starts with supernatural Sci Fi sounds rapidly followed by an Arabian exotic and mysterious theme with Meola's typical guitar playing signature. Acoustic melodic parts are mixed with raging, technical electric passages. As usual the atmosphere is in perpetual changes, from fast to slow, from luminous to dark. A catchy composition. "Silent Story In Her Eyes » is a peaceful, melodic acoustic ballad, very jazzy and Latin. "Roller Jubilee » is a disconcerted composition made of soft guitar parts: banal in the extreme and a bit ridiculous. "Two To Tango » is a fascinating, dynamic track which perfectly illustrates the communication between two dancers of Tango, very precise, rhythmical with achieved melodies. "Al Di`s Dream Theme » is a musical trademark, combining various aspects of Tango performed with electricity, jazzy based guitar touch dialoguing with synth sounds. A rather calm piece before the powerful "Dinner Music Of The God"; a heavy, epic and furious composition, the best one on this album. The conjunction between the different ideas is perfectly executed. After that, the machine breaks down into pretentious, laughable sounds. Check "I Can Tell" and the classical imitation of "Isfahan". There is no room of doubt, if you are a beginner you should go on "Elegant gypsy" and "Casino" first, then try "Electric Rendez-vous" and this one.