Nic Polimeno - 'The Gioconda Smile'

Lightweight, but pleasant.

Italian born Nic Polimeno offers up his debut album 'The Gioconda Smile' with a mature effort that belies the fact he is only 22 years old. Handling the vocals and guitar himself, Nic is backed by a selection of his countrymen including Marco Tansini, who adds his guitar skills and production to the album.

'Angel Eyes' is a well crafted opener and Polimeno sings very well, accent free. 'Alive Again' is a bit more downbeat, juxtaposed with the cheery 'High And Dry'. Polimeno claims to have influences ranging from jazz to blues-rock to funk. Some of these influences, particularly funk and jazz, reveal themselves in the groovy instrumental 'Kokopo' and 'The Gioconda Shuffle'. There is some solid slow blues thanks to 'Remember The Days' but the majority of the material is firmly based in pop-rock territory.



'Painting The Fall' is like Coldplay but with better vocals, while 'Stop Your Love' wouldn't be out of place in the hands of the Bee Gees. The finale 'I Want You' is a blues instrumental, allowing Polimeno to showcase his guitar chops.
It's clear the guy is talented and it's a decent debut. But it's not one for hard rockers as this is much breezier. Lightweight, but pleasant.

James Gaden