The Italian musician, composer and producer Michele, known as Mike Della Bella, was born in Rome in 1965. His first instrument was a guitar that he was given at the age of 12; He began to play and write many songs since then and discovered a natural talent for natural composition. In the 80s he began to compose and record his songs semi-professionally, while learning to play the keyboards, recording these songs for more than thirty years, until he decided to make a complete album according to his personal taste.
For his second album, ‘The Man With The Red Shoes’, he decided to rely again on his trusted musicians who already played in ‘ONE’, such as Daniele Trissati on guitars and Mauro Scardini on keyboards, who also helped him with the arrangements. The album has been recorded in the international musicians’ studios and the arrangements and main recording in Mike’s personal studio in Rome, using an iconic analogue mixer such as the Euphonix CS3000, before the digital process. The mixing process was carried out by another international name such as Ronny Lahti (CWF, Dirty Loops, Roxette, Europe).
Foreword:
There are still heroes in this music thing. I am not using the term lightly, it is a conscious and empirical impression, because I have been able to verify it with my own eyes. At this point, I think that the regular readers of this page of yours know very well who Michele Della Bella is. And they know his musical projects. He is one of the people most dear to me, a great friend, brother rather, a man who came one day knocking on the doors of our hearts with a first album under his arm, and who practically stayed to live among us. Those of you who have had the opportunity to share moments with him will know what I am talking about.
Please note that this is not a review of Mike Della Bella Project’s brand new work, but rather a small and humble preface attached to the review itself that I was asked to write from the website address. In this new work you will have the opportunity to enjoy the talent of both Michele and the impressive roster of artists who have left their mark on him, a “global” work of art if I may use the term. It is a set of small gems that capture the musical concerns without barriers or conditions of an unredeemed lover of music. AOR, Melodic Rock, Westcoast, a pinch of Soul and some Jazz in a cautious and balanced mix, simmered, like all good things. And I think that more than one will be surprised when he meets the constellation of musicians who have deposited his talent throughout this beauty that is about to be presented to society.
In the life of a musical project, many things happen that are not visible to the eye of the final consumer. I have had the immense luck and the infinite pleasure of contributing some elements to this project, which, for the moment, allow me to let them remain anonymous until it is time for them to be known, if they should be known. Thank you Michelle for the trust, it has been an honor for me.
If you have read this far, thank you for your attention. I leave you with the review that will surely bear the seal of quality and professionalism that your website has always given you. I just hope you enjoy this project as much as those of us who have been involved in it have. Alea Jacta Est.
And just as if we were in a movie, «Far From Over» arrives with the great LaBlanc on vocals and an absolutely perfect mix of AOR with a pinch of Westcoast, thanks to those wonderful saxophone, trumpet, trombone and that sound. Feel the soul dissolving in the air. Open your eyes and suddenly stretch your hands up to the sky and touch it. The piano is the real protagonist here, led by Mauro. We continue with “Gifts Of Life”. Same voice and a more classic cut of pure AOR, where we recognize Robbie much more in his preferred style. Careful melodies and an impeccable drum sound and especially the bass that is reflected in my ears. Daniele‘s guitar is perfect at all times. The sound is so clear and crisp that you are amazed. If you want to see the tremendous list of collaborating artists, I’ll leave it below when we finish the analysis.
«Shelter Me». Now we change vocal genre and Nanà Petrossi appears, who already sang on her previous album, ONE. Pure Westcoast/Soul from the pure signature of MIke Della Bella. Very important role of percussion, trombone, sax and trumpet, all well combined. You burn your mind with memories. You smile suddenly for no reason or you cry like a child in the silence. I am already overwhelmed by so much musical quality and it does not stop with «Nothing I Wouldn’t Do» with another immense voice, that of MaShanda Favors, a black, very Soul voice that hooks you at first. The song has a flow that makes you dance from the second one, one of my favorites on the album and it kills you and yet you continue living, feeding on the melodies. It is not finding a home anywhere and everywhere at the same time. «If the Darkest Night» returns to LaBlanc and the AOR/Melodic Rock path of pure class and high standing. Here is a guitar solo by the great Fran «Huff» Alonso from the Spanish band HACKERS, with that technique that characterizes him. The fantastic choirs.
They recently presented us with the second single, «Affinity». Here Mike has taken Robbie out of his comfort zone and made him explore that very Westcoast sound with drops of Aor and in a beautiful mid-tempo full of feeling where he has demonstrated the versatility of his voice and how well this genre suits him. A beautiful guitar solo by the great Peter Friestedt washes over us and everything is union and sensitivity. Catch hundreds of planes with enthusiasm. Know that you are expected in a thousand places. Wanting to live, perhaps, two hundred lives. «Once In A Lifetime». Pure magic, without tricks, very «ONE» theme for their debut. Varied and very eclectic sounds with a perfect voice for it, Naná’s. No label is necessary because only music makes you feel that the heart does not beat without passion. Feeling that you are alive, sharp guitars and a heartfelt voice turn this song into melodic rock without additives.
And with MaShanda Favors we delve into the most exquisite and select Jazz/Soul/Westcoast and the song «Surrender», I love the way Nathan East’s bass sounds. Once again the winds turn the atmosphere into a halo of good taste. Music in all its extension. It’s like waking up and not wanting to open your eyes. It’s keeping your voice under lock and key. Now we get very sweet, close, feeling skin against skin and the voice of my dear Jesús Espín singer «To You» in a duet with Petrossi. Open a bottle of wine and light some candles, enjoy the taste, touch and sound with your eyes closed. Necessary ballad. I look back, and being so close… it hurts to suddenly get used to it. Not knowing where you are going, what you are doing…
«I’d Rather Be a Fool» is like being in New York and enjoying the most delicious Swing of Michael Bublé with the voice of St. Paul Peterson, where he recreates a style, (there he goes), Traditional pop, rock, vocal jazz jazz show tune swing blue-eyed soul duet with Naná. That no one can understand me. Spend hours looking at the cover, of a time that was so normal recently, so that good habits are not lost. We finished one of the three albums that will be at the top of 2024 with «Hunter Of Shadows». It will come out in the Japanese version and I’ll leave it a question mark for you to discover for yourself when you have it in your possession.
An album with a lot of effort, dedication, inspiration and talent from Mike Della Bella and his team. Keep walking, like a train through the fog when everyone is asleep. You will reach your destination.
95%
viriAOR 
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