The artist known as michÈal CASTALDO (and that is how he capitalizes it) appears to be the band member more equal than others on this intriguing two disc set. One disc contains fourteen songs with vocals while the second disc repeats the material in a different order sans vocals. I definitely prefer the instrumental disc. The lyrics remind me of too many pedestrian pop songs with an overabundance of manufactured "feeling" in the delivery. The instrumentals, however, generally 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.
My efforts to learn more about Lives of a Cell and Gioia2 through their Web site was less than satisfactory. The site is virtually all under construction. Eventually I did manage to download a PDF format press release which lists michÈal CASTALDO as songwriter and producer on Gioia2 along with some less than edifying PR boilerplate information. The disc credits indicate CASTALDO collaborated on or arranged every piece. His co-writers include Benny Kay, Keith Edwards, Doc Elliot Grotell, John Wager, Aaron Schroeder and Stein Berg Svendsen (credited with writing "Losin My Love" and "Not Enuff Love" on which CASTALDO gets the arranger credit.)
Back in the late Sixties when FM radio was in its brief experimental phase and AM in transition from being the primary outlet for pop music to the home of talk and news it was incredibly common for people to say about a band, 'Their records are okay, but you HAVE to see them live.' Allowing them the benefit of the doubt, I suspect that this may be the case with Lives of a Cell. 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.
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... which I found pedestrian... or concentrate on their musicianship and instrumental capabilities... which I found more satisfying.
