INTROSPEZIONE - DONELLA DEL MONACO

This album is a bit of a trip, you just never know what's coming next or what's around the corner. If you have heard and like Pierrot Lunaire's "Gudrun" then you will want to take the plunge here. Conversely if you hate that record chances are good you won't appreciate this one. I would say this album is a bit less strange and a bit more traditional in background than is "Gudrun" but the comparison in style is still a valid one.

Donella Del Monaco has the voice of an angel and applies it to an odd collection of piano, violin, flute, cello, and percussion. The music is unbridled and primarily acoustic with little rock and roll influence. The vocals are operatic styled in most songs and controlled yet emotional and warm. This is not music I will listen to often frankly but I'm glad to have had the experience, so take what you will from that advice.

The opening is a collage piece with piano, spoken word with trippy effects, odd noises, etc. Sounds a little like a bunch of toddlers being released into the school music room. "Les Plaisirs Sont Doux" is completely captivating with gorgeous vocals, piano and violin. "La Marmellata" begins with the voices of children and features flutes with a "swirled" sound to them. "L'Altalena" is just a very melodic and flowing song that gives a break from any strangeness. But that picks up again in "Monologo" which is very eerie with spoken word and tense violin-I have no idea what she's saying but it sounds distressing! "Il Pavone" is the one somewhat conventional song you will find within having rhythmic drumming and some structural boundaries for Donella to sing within. It's a nice song with flute and piano throughout. "Deliee" is my vote for the most beautiful song in this set and again I only wish I understood Italian.

This album will appeal to fans of Avant and Italian prog and anyone who wants to hear plenty of beautiful soprano, piano, against rather strange arrangements. This album will not appeal to people who like more conventional music or who want to rock out.

The Trident Records re-issue is a nicely done gatefold mini-LP sleeve featuring the alluring and mysterious artwork, and exceptional sound quality. Between 3 and 4 stars but I'm rounding down for now on this one.

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