Alberto Baldan Bembo - Sound Orchestra (1982) [Vinyl]

This is a special record. Opener Cabo Frio is almost deceptive in its simplicity, you smile at the melody at first but then you start paying attention to the details: the subtle drumming, the fun and quirky vocals, and of course the brilliant bassline that gives the song a fanstastic groove. By the time you grasp it all you notice the tone now is melancholic, and the track slowly fades out. These mood changes, sometimes a lot more overtly obvious than here, give the relatively short tracks an almost journeylike feel to them - maybe not surprising considering Alberto Baldan Bembo's work in movies. He is a master of short storytelling no matter how the format and circumstances.

Here, he tells them with synthdriven samba, off-kilter electro, dreamy jazz-infused funk and low-key lounge instrumental soul. He experiments, challenges and paves new ground while still paying homage to his inspirations - The New Panther is a great take on Henry Mancini's iconic "The Pink Panther"-theme, keeping the noir-feeling but making the tone more interesting. At times a bit incoherent but in the end, you mainly can just marvel at whan an amazing little gem this is. An album that's a tad experimental yet somehow incredibly easy to listen to. Highly recommended!