ANTONIO
FORCIONE - Touch
wood (2003 Naim Audio)Antonio Forcione: Guitars, both fretted and fretless, percussions
Jenny Adejayan: Cello
Adriano Pinto: Percussions
Enzo Zirilli: Cajòn
Sabina Sciubba: Vocals
Diego el Cigala: Vocals
Touch wood is Antonio Forcione's latest cd. Antonio is a well known and highly respected acoustic player who can rock your ears.
The album opens with Touch Wood, a percussive track in the style of Michael Hedges and Preston Reed. Plenty of natural harmonics. Percussive style, with both hands, on the strings and on the body of his guitar.
Tarantella is a clear example of Antonio's ability to fuse italian traditional music with an innovative approach to folk music. Antonio calls even strings (a cello) to make the arrangement more complex and to give you the impression you're in south Italy, in a sunny day. The most interestin' thing in this album, IMHO, lies exactly in impressions that Antonio will be able to create. Antonio build his Theatre of Feelings one track after the other. Great change in mood at 3:15.
Alhambra is my fave track, as it creates a texture sooo strong that will fix into your head. Great vocal fills. This time you'll be in middleeast, strugglin' with the desert's sand and sun. Then all of a sudden a melodic chorus, as you were thinkin' of your loved ones in that time of trouble . The cd contains also the video for this track, which i liked a lot too. What a great solo, too!
Sunstep is a happy track, very sunny. Wasn't i talkin' of impressions, emotions and stuff like that? =)
Gigolò showcases Antonio stylistic diversity, makin' this cd enjoyable from minute one 'till the end of it.
Once again the mood is very entertainin', and the vocals are funny too! "Gigooooolò!" =) Perfect as the soundtrack for a movie. Imagine James Bond in Spain dancin' with one of his bons girls, seductin' her. Yeah, NOW you've got the whole picture! =)
Nostalgia is another great track. To be honest, every track in the cd is absolutely great, showin' that Antonio deserves to be considered one of the young shinin' new talents. Great musicality besides the well rounded technique. The guy knows how to create true feelings.
Scrambled Eggs is again very happy soundin'. Listen to the quasi-slapped fill at the beginnin'. Then if you think Steve Vai's doublin' vocals in his early days was cool, take a close listen to antonio doublin' the vocals too.
Antonio's a great musician besides bein' a great guitarist.
The album is also recorded and mixed very well,makin' the quality of
this product even higher.
Get it now, if you like modern acoustic guitar AND traditional music,
you won' t be disappointed.
If you don't like modern acoustic guitar and traditional music, buy
this cd and you'll start to love 'em both.
Rating: 10
(reviewed by Max)