Matt Bianco - Hideaway (2012)

1 	You Are My Love 	3:54
2 	Too Late For Love 	4:26
3 	Kiss The Bride 	5:06
4 	Medusa 	4:10
5 	Falling 	4:23
6 	The Other Side Of Love 	4:07
7 	It's Just The Way It Goes 	5:44
8 	You'll Never Know 	4:44
9 	Cosmic Samba 	5:10
10 	The Universe 	4:09
11 	Too Late For Love (Papik Remix) 	4:37
12 	Hideaway 	1:21

Guitar – Tony Remy, Alfredo Bochicchio
Keyboards – Mark Fisher, Nerio "Papik" Poggi
Vocals – Mark Reilly, Elisabeth Troy
Backing Vocals – Elisabeth Troy
Double Bass – Pierpaolo Ranieri
Drums – Marco Rovinelli
Flute – Andrew Ross
Percussion – Simone Talone
Saxophone – Fabbio Tullio
Saxophone [Solo] – Dave O'Higgins
Trombone – Ambrogio Frigerio
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Massimo Guerra

British band Matt Bianco release their latest album ‘Hideaway’ on March 8th 2013. Despite many misconceptions throughout the years, Matt Bianco is the name of the band who were originally formed in the early 1980’s by ex Blue Ronda À La Turk band members who comprised of the late Kito Poncioni, Mark Reilly and guitarist Peter White’s brother Danny White on keys. They invited the unknown Polish vocalist at that time Basia (Trzetrzelewska) to perform on their first set which yielded the monumental hits ‘Half A Minute’ and ‘Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed’.

After more than three decades of making great music and performing to global audiences, ‘Hideaway’ reunites Mark Reilly with long time collaborator Mark Fisher for another chapter in their signature class of exotic Latin rhythms blended with dancefloor orientated grooves. The use of ‘world’ instrumentation such as the sitar on the opening ‘You Are My Love’ set the mood for the album by this well traveled and seasoned group.

Those of you who are familiar with previous ‘Bianco’ tracks will recognize the harmonies on the catchy ‘Too Late For Love’ featuring Reilly on lead vocal. Time has stood still for this band whose instantly identifiable sound transcends the years with tracks such as ‘Kiss The Bride’ , ‘Madusa’ and the ‘Studio 54’ single contender ‘Falling’ which would have fitted perfectly into a late seventies disco set in that iconic New York club.

Smooth Jazz Radio will be attracted to the laid-back ‘It’s Just The Way It Goes’ with Reilly’s cool lead vocal and a soft trumpet bridge vibe.

However the album’s killer cut is the uptempo ‘You’ll Never Know ‘ featuring the exquisite and succinct Elisabeth Troy on vocal duties and is a perfect 2013 hit replacement for their 80’s smash ‘Half A Minute’. The powerful title hook line is perfectly complimented by the driving ‘Bianco-esque’ Latin percussion and synth riffs.

The album’s title ‘Hideaway’ conjures up an escapism from the frenetic modern world and ‘The Universe’ certainly delivers a cool groove which has all the aura of an intergalactic adventure with the echoed synths and electric piano licks which are reminiscent of the early Rah Band and ‘Messages from The Stars’ from the eighties.

‘Too Late For Love’ gets a meatier remix on the album by Papik with some added horns and the album wanes to a close like a candle’s final evening’s flickers with the album’s short, but subtly sweet title track ‘Hideaway’.

I expect long time Matt Bianco fans will be queuing up for this latest chapter in easy listening groove which is the perfect accompaniment to a quiet night in or a relaxing night’s surfing. ---jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl

Matt Bianco is one of those groups who are now more popular overseas as opposed to the UK. Much like Sade, Swing out Sister and Incognito they continue to tour abroad and the albums are still selling well.

Mark Reilly and Mark Fisher are still the mainstays of the band and the album is typical of their well crafted songs and rich melodies. Their albums always contains a cover version and the new album kicks off with the old Liverpool Express hit from the 70's, You are my Love: the band makes the song their own turning into a summer latin-flavoured groove.

Things take off with Too Late for Love - one of the best tracks on the album, the track sees the band in full stride. You'll Never Know sees the band on top form again, whilst Cosmic Samba is an instrumental with just female vocalist Elisabeth Antwi adding to the track urging you "to fly her to the moon".

The songs are timeless, that is not to say that the tracks are dated, it simply says that the songs will still sound good in 10 years time, unlike some of today's popular music.

If you liked the band first time around, you will not be disappointed. For anyone who likes their music with a touch of pop, a dash of jazz and some brilliant memorable tracks then this album is an essential purchase. It may have been 4 years since their last album but the wait has been worth it. ---Graham Clark, yorkshiretimes.co.uk

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