MARIO BIONDI レコード& CD

Review: Since debuting in 2006, Italian singer Mario Biondi has skipped between styles and sub-genres, variously turning his hand to carnival-ready Latin jazz, soul-jazz, easy listening, Europop, Christmas music and bossanova. On Romantic, his latest full-length excursion, he keeps his options open too, offering up a range of loved-up songs (in both English and Italian) that variously doff a cap to Nat King Cole, big band jazz, jazz-funk, Barry White (the Love Unlimited Orchestra style 'Romantic Song'), string-laden tear-jerkers ('Loneliness'), funked-up disco-jazz ('What's Your Name'), Rhodes-heavy soul (a gospel-influenced cover of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' that's worth the admission price on its own) and breezy Latin beats ('Papa Loves Mambo').

Review: Although little known in the UK, Sicilian singer Mario Biondi has sold huge amounts of records in his native Italy. It's not surprising, really, given the quality of his Barry White-esque deep and soulful vocal style. Here he pops up on Schema, offering up the seductive, slow dance-friendly silkiness of "Never Stop Dreaming" and the warm and groovy Philly Soul revivalism "Stay With Me". That track is given the once over by fellow Italian LTJ Xperience. Interestingly, his full vocal remix is faster, warmer and looser than his normal metronomic productions, while retaining his usual DJ-friendly grooves. His soulful house style instrumental Dub is pretty darn tasty, too.