Customer Reviews

Gioia2

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Love the concept of giving the listener the option of playing compositions with or without vocals. The sound is fresh and new--upbeat yet soulful. Wonderful musicianship with surprising harmonics and rhythms. Though each offering is distinctive, all hang together as a very satisfying collection. I highly recommend this one and will look for more from this group!

Too often World Music seems based in simply one area of the world and isn't truly a mixture of styles from around the world. It's a tough balance which Gioia2 accomplishes well. There is a theme of pop, inspirational music throughout, but musically it's as diverse as the world itself. A double CD set that is certainly worth every dollar that you spend....

…Gioia2 by Lives of a Cell is an interesting concept that allows the listener to decide whether to listen for lyric content and vocal capabilities... or concentrate on their musicianship and instrumental capabilities... which I found more satisfying. The instrumentals… hit the mark with a blend of influences heavily weighted toward nuevo flamenco but also blending a wide variety of styles including Zydeco and bossa nova. The instrumentation includes nylon string guitar, reeds, percussion and hand drums employed to good effect. …The instrumental disc allows the listener to focus on what I think are their strengths, namely a high degree of musicianship and tunes that are lively, danceable and easily allow for flights of soloing.
April /2003 by Chris White - Green Man Review

Gioia2 by Lives of a Cell is an interesting concept that allows the listener to decide whether to listen for lyric content and vocal capabilities...or concentrate on their musicianship and instrumental capabilities...which I found more satisfying. The instrumentals...hit the mark with a blend of influences heavily weighted toward nuevo flamenco but also blending a wide variety of styles including Zydeco and bossa nova. The instrumentation includes nylon string guitar, reeds, percussion and hand drums employed to good effect...The instrumental disc allows the listener to focus on what I think are their strengths, namely a high degree of musicianship and tunes that are lively, danceable and easily allow for flights of soloing.

April /2003 by Chris White - Green Man Review

When it comes to blending genres and influences to create his amazing and compelling "World Music," SESAC songwriter/producer Michael Castaldo has definite opinions about what works and what doesn't.
"I think the difference between watered-down, appropriated ethnic music and brilliant new syntheses just has to do with honesty," Castaldo says.
Listening to Gioia2, the latest project from Lives of a Cell, Castaldo's ambitious and wide-ranging musical collective, the honesty and musical integrity are palpable. Rather than present a mishmash of genres and cultures, Castaldo manages to gleefully solder his wide-ranging influences into one seamless musical whole, creating music that is startlingly fresh and new.
"The vibe of Gioia 2 is designed to captivate the essence of the soul and of happiness," Castaldo says.
The creative impetus for his latest effort came about when Castaldo heard Andrea Bocelli's popular classical piece, "Con Te Partiro." Captivated, the producer continually played the song, which, in his words, "transported me to the days of another era, a time filled with romance and nostalgia."
Entering the studio with Argentinean flamenco guitarist Hernan Romero, Castaldo created one of the most innovative takes on a classical piece in recent pop music history. And the rest of Gioia2 lives up to this original inspiration, with Latin legend Jose Feliciano contributing his unmistakable guitar and vocals to the song, "Rio."

SESAC Songwriter profile (added Jan 23, 2003) By Peter Cronin

Too often World Music seems based in simply one area of the world and isn't truely a mixture of styles from around the world. It's a tough balance which Gioia2 accomplishes well. There is a theme of pop, inspirational music throughout, but musically it's as diverse as the world itself. A double CD set that is certainly worth every dollar that you spend.

Hot rhythms, passionate vocals and exotic gipsy magic all rolled into one. A brilliant collection of songs from the enthralling Lives of a Cell