Marcello Pellitteri: Acceptance

A heavy air of melancholy hangs over award-winning drummer/composer Marcello Pellitteri's new album Acceptance. There is a serious reason for this, a tragic one, in fact. The record is dedicated to Pellitteri's daughter Veronica, who died at a young age nearly two years ago. The pain of loss can be keenly felt on several tracks on this extremely personal and emotionally powerful release; however, there is a love of life as well that ultimately sees better days ahead.

"Last Autumn Sun" is awash with lush orchestration. It is cinematic in scope like a widescreen production. Dreamy, bluesy guitars cut through the swirling haze like teardrops in the rain. The song aches with heartbreak, but it's a gentle sound, a feeling of resignation. Dark-night bass lines and measured drums project an atmosphere thick with mood and introspective thoughts. The guitars gradually build tempo but its overall sense of sadness remains.

One of the most moving cuts on the album features Veronica herself, her original vocals isolated and reworked with a new arrangement. Entitled "Silent Song," it was initially produced for the theater play Silent Song of Genjer Flower. Hearing Veronica's angelic singing with ethereal violins, hypnotic bass, and spiky acoustic riffs delivers an unforgettable, otherworldly experience.

Nevertheless, not everything on the record was fueled by the emptiness of despair. "Rock House" and "Special K" inject a burst of electrifying energy on the album. In fact, "Special K" is actually the opener, a roof-rattler with fuzzy rock riffs, frenzied bass lines, and Pellitteri's crashing drums. It jams with relentless speed.