Assolo Rock-pop and Synth – Assolotino (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Most artists like to kick off albums with a bang, hitting the listener right between the eyes from the word go and, you know, making a statement. It says something about Assolotino‘s confidence and character that he opens this solo instrumental album with a cool and understated wander through the smooth jazz landscape, especially considering the overall sound of what follows.

But, in its way, such an out of character opener speaks volumes about the album – a series of musical odysseys through every genre imaginable, including a few that I’m sure are his own creations and all delivered on his own terms.

So for every restrained and delicate “Jazzato,” there are songs such as “OK get ready” and “Ball la la,” which squall and screech their way through the rock and roll realm. “New effects in the sun” has a punkish vibe, “Molto spensierato” ebbs and flows between West Coast calm and incendiary and anthemic guitar runs and “One acute” swerves the guitar altogether and allows Assolotino to show us what he can do with eighties-infused synth soundscapes.

At 20 tracks, this album covers a lot of ground, and it is clear from the way that Assolotino approaches things that he is happy to rip up the rule book and do his own thing. But, after all, isn’t that how the musical landscape moves forward?