Al Di Meola ‎– Elysium

180-gram gatefold double LP

Direct Metal Mastering, cut at 45 RPM from the 48kHz/24-bit master

On Elysium Al Di Meola is playing both electric and acoustic guitar, in the style that is uniquely Al Di Meola's.

Elysium features many new originals from one of the world's greatest guitarists

He came from the Land Of The Midnight Sun, sparkled on the jazz-rock stage as an Elegant Gypsy, came up trumps in the Casino with all the right chords and melodies, and his Splendido Hotel was the number one address for fusion fans around the globe. He finally achieved immortality together with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia on Friday Night In San Francisco. For guitar lovers, the name Al Di Meola carries the same guarantee of quality that Ferrari does for sports car enthusiasts or Chateau Mouton-Rothschild for wine connoisseurs.

Elysium is the climax of this process so far. The artist has arrived where he always wanted to be. He himself thinks of Elysium as a "place of perfect happiness." A paradise where acoustic and electric components, triumphant rock and finely entwined jazz, delicate and pumping rhythms, guitars and keyboards, wide panoramas of rock and diaphanous carpets of sound come together in harmony. In this magical Elysium, everyone complements each other. Al Di Meola has brought together a five piece band with no bass. While he plays all the guitar parts himself, both acoustic and electric, including unbelievably fast and elegant riffs and effervescent rocking chords, three keyboard players and pianists provide shades of color.

This trio includes new recruit Philippe Saisse, who also contributes the composition "La Lluvia." The others have shared musical accomplishments with their band leader going back decades. Barry Miles has known Al since the seventies. Mario Parmisano can be heard on recordings such as Orange And Blue (1994) and Flesh On Flesh (2002). Two new rhythm players have now joined the team: percussionist Rhani Krija and drummer Peter Kaszas. Both of them are wide awake and always right up with the beat.

The gates to paradise for guitar aficionados are open to everyone with Elysium.

Tracklist

A1     Adour     6:45
A2     Cascade     5:00
A3     Babylon     4:07

B1     Purple And Gold     6:00
B2     Esmeralda     4:34
B3     Elysium     4:21

C1     Amanjena     5:14
C2     Sierra     4:40
C3     Etcetera In E-Major (Intro)     1:28
C4     Etcetera In E-Minor     5:13

D1     Tangier     3:32
D2     Stephanie     6:28
D3     Monsters     3:13