Serene Demon

On his fourth album, Art dEcco challenged himself to break away from the sound that had pigeonholed him -- somewhat unfairly -- as a glam rock revivalist. Serene Demon may not be glam, but it certainly is glamorous and, in the best possible way, theatrical. Inspired by maestros like John Barry, Henry Mancini, and Ennio Morricone, dEcco channels his flair for the dramatic into intricate orchestration, like the pizzicato strings that grace the spy movie-worthy "Cooler Than This" or the marimbas that make "The Traveler" one of the best uses of the instrument since Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way." Things get even more lavish on "Mersaults Walk," a slinky, Camus-referencing instrumental that foreshadows the title tracks symphonic rock battle between good and evil. Though Serene Demon is easily dEccos most ambitious music, its still a lot of fun. On "Tree of Life"s impatient disco and the shiny new wave rockabilly of "Honeycomb," he expands his horizons while honoring his gift for pairing razor-sharp intellect and abundant hooks. And while the album flirts with excess, his honed songwriting is apparent from the sparkly stomp of the opening track, "True Believer," to the sweeping drama of the finale, "Change of Scenery." Serene Demon might be a shade less immediate than his earlier albums, but the way dEcco savors his artistic freedom only burnishes his reputation for top-shelf pop with a biting wit. ~ Heather Phares