ESSERE O NON ESSERE ?

Not as commercial sounding as the debut, this is mostly an instrumental album with vocals on only one track, although there are vocal melodies on other songs. I must say this album has really left me feeling indifferent about it. That surprises me. I've held off reviewing this thinking more listens would warm me up to their sound, but it's not happening for me.The sound isn't the best either on my release(BMG Ariola S.p.A.). It's also suprising it's not even 31 minutes in length.

"Gente In Amore" opens with some strange sounding synths. A full sound a minute in sounds like fusion, this is followed by a calm with acoustic guitar, vocal melodies and drums. The contrast continues. "Medio Oriente 249000 Tutto Compreso" opens with more strange synth sounds with a full sound arriving before a minute. Excellent sound 2 1/2 minutes in, with synths, percussion and vocal melodies arriving a minute later.

"Essere" opens with faint vocals and sound. It does get fuller sounding and kind of funky a minute in. "Alcune Scene" is faint sounding to open again. A full sound 2 minutes in. A calm with synths after 3 minutes. It gets jazzy 4 1/2 minutes in to the end. Nice. "Svegliandomi Con Te Alle 6 Del Mattino" is mellow with synths as some tasteful guitar comes in followed by bass and piano. Drums are more prominant after 3 minutes as the sound builds. "Canti E Suoni" opens with faint vocal melodies and piano. It gets louder after a minute. Much better sound after 2 minutes with vocal melodies. The tempo picks up 3 1/2 minutes in.

I can barely give this 3 stars. Unfortunately IL VOLO is a band I just can't get into.