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Mike Viola – Acousto De Perfecto

If you’ve seen Tom Hank’s directorial debut then you’ve heard Mike Viola before. The singer songwriter provided the vocals for that film’s titular hit ‘that thing you do’. In between here and there he’s been involved with three different record labels (including his own), fronted the candy butchers and produced for a plethora of artists. The multi-talented Viola is back with a new album, well kind of new, there are six new songs alongside five re-interpretations from Viola’s back catalogue.

 It’s an interesting piece of work from the Stoughton, Massachusetts native. ‘Acousto de Perfecto’ is very much a pared back affair with the recording done on an analogue eight track. The simple DIY aesthetic runs through the album. There’s a marked quality to the string arrangements (provided by Eric Summer and Kate Reddish) that permeate throughout this collection making for a decidedly pleasant listening experience. It doesn’t swamp the listener but gives each track a distinctive warmth and intimacy.

Highlights include the instrumental ‘thing in c’, ‘Closet Cutters’ ‘Bulimic Rant’ and the quite lovely ‘Primary Care Giver’. There’s very little not to like about this album. Its lush sound certainly belies the simplicity of its recording. Viola speaks of the ad hoc nature of the sessions. ‘I’d text Eric and Kate every time knowing they’d be game and bleary eyed for late night hanging’. It mightn’t have been conventional but it’s certainly produced an album of genuine quality that commands more than the one listen.

 

Niall Healy.

Editor
Editor of LLR since 2005

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