Originally Posted by NumberNineDream

I think it's time I just force myself to write these reviews.

From abdullah424:


Vato Negro is a side project from the bassist of the Mars Volta, Juan Alderete. Unfortunately, I never gave the Mars Volta a listen, so I can't compare Alderete's work in both projects.

Anyway, I loved the album the second I played it. It's solely instrumental, with a lot of electronica arrangements surrounding the drums and the virtuosic bass guitar playing. I don't think I can get hooked on it, as I can't seem to memorise much of it, but I'm sure I'll be listening to it a lot. I loved listening to it while studying, while trying to sleep and of course while rockin' in my car. It's just not hard to be in the mood for it, opposite to what I usually get from listening to electronic music.

I'm pretty sure I'll be searching for some Mars Volta albums to download very soon.



It was a great trade with both of yous, abdullah424 and GotJuice

Originally Posted by Unchained Ballad

abdullah424 sent me this:

Stavros Lantsias seems to be a Greek pianist, possibly a multi-instrumentalist, though I'm afraid I lack the information to elaborate further (perhaps I haven't tried hard enough).

I found listening to the album a quite pleasurable experience. I'd say it's pretty damn fantastic.

The violin and the piano feature quite proeminently on it, while several other instruments, which I wouldn't dream of trying to name, give their worthy contribution.

It starts off with a certain soothing melancholia, a mood that stays with the whole album on a general note. It has certain film noiresque nuances about it, which make it all the more enthralling (think The Waltz Of June).

I like how it sets a certain mood while never fading into the background, which is a common denominator with low caliber instrumental albums, making you hang on every twist and turn. There's a very impressive emotional quality to it, that stands out in tracks like "Quest".

It's also a fairly eclectic album, with some middle eastern influences occasionaly popping up, and a wide range of musical arrangements that cover pieces of music like the Waltz and what seems to be something like the Tango, for example.

The title of the album, "Return", makes me want to insert the songs in a certain context, a journey, a transformative journey home, perhaps.
The whole nostalgia and sullenness that envolve most of the pieces seem to support my claim. The eclecticity seems to give it a more mundane, global, experienced, if you will, feeling; and the occasional romantic, passionate side of the album seems to be reminiscent of loves had and loves lost.

I recommend this album vehemently.
Thanks for the experience, abdullah.