Al Di Meola Casino

High Quality Pure Analogue 180g Virgin Vinyl LP!
Master of the strings, Al Di Meola, turns his back on over-ambitious manual dexterity as in "Elegant Gypsy" to concentrate more on musical substance and demonstrates his intensive work with the material in the follow-up album "Casino". For example in "Egyptian Danza", an amalgamation of melodies which circle around one another and evoke with light electronics the contrasting worlds of the Orient, Occident and New World. A far sharper sound is conjured up in "Chasin‘ The Voodoo", which escalates to an extremely tightly-knit continuous fire, infused with the maestro's familiar guitar sound. Di Meola - with himself alone - combines the idea of multiple rhythms and parts: In the "Fantasia Suite For Two Guitars", four miniatures with percussive zapateado and whirling flamenco, he accompanies himself thanks to multi-tracking. All great stuff, but the best comes last: in the lengthy title number "Casino" all powers come together to create a magnificent performance with varying tempos, layered patterns, deceptive metrical changes and, of course, guitar playing of the highest order.
String dancer Al di Meola, who had already converted his initially overmotivated finger artistry into a plus of musical substance in "Elegant Gypsy", follows the path to more concentrated work with the material in the follow-up album "Casino". For example, "Egyptian Danza", a complex of melodies revolving around each other that describe the field of tension between orient, Occident and new world in an electronically slightly charged way. Much sharper in terms of sound, "Chasin' The Voodoo" increases to a highly condensed continuous fire, permeated by the familiar bright string sound of the master, who implements the idea of multiple rhythms and voices in personal union with himself: In the "Fantasia Suite For Two Guitars", four miniatures, in which crashing Zapateado as shimmering flamenco is inherent, Meola accompanies himself thanks to multitracking. After so much good, the best comes at the end: In the extended title piece "Casino", the assembled forces concentrate to the very big game of changing tempos, superimposed patterns, metric sliding tricks and, of course, sovereign guitar art.
This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head.

Features:

• 180g High Quality Vinyl
• Pure Analogue
• Made from the original, analogue mastertapes
• Pressed at Pallas/Germany
• Faithful reproductions of original artwork and labels

Musicians:

• Al Di Meola (g)
• Barry Miles (keyb)
• Anthony Jackson (b)
• Steve Gadd (dr)
• Mingo Lewis (cga)
• Eddie Colon (perc)

Selections:

Side A
1. Egyptian Danza
2. Chasin' The Voodoo
3. Dark Eye Tango
Side B
1. Senor Mouse
2. Fantasia Suite For Two Guitars
3. Casino

Recorded May - September 1977 at Electric Lady Studios, New York, by Dave Palmer