This debut release by contemporary composer Nick Vasallo truly blurs the line between the concert hall and rock club. Vasallo's musical vocabulary ranges from extremely minimalistic to radically chromatic and tonally adventurous. Aspects of archaic (Middle Age and Renaissance polyphony), post-Romantic, Minimalist, Impressionist, Heavy Metal, and Taiko are all present within this CD. His unique style has been dubbed as "Eclecticism", which is his (generation's) reaction to the long winded and patriarchal Western Art music tradition. Although each track showcases Vasallo's ever-changing technique and thought process, he consistently reveals his distinct voice clearly. This CD is not just for the adventurous, but is suitable for anyone that craves variety and drama. REVIEWS: "This CD is a varied grab-bag of works for different ensembles by a young composer who, before undertaking any formal musical training, performed and wrote material for a hardcore thrash metal rock band. The three electro-acoustic pieces (Vertigo series) are the only ones here that suggest the sort of thing one might hear in a rock club, apart from a general tendency toward 'dark' subject matter in the texts performed or alluded to in some works; the other pieces are highly accomplished pastiches of various styles from Baroque and classical keyboard music to minimalism to polyphonic chant, and so on. In general the pieces are short, tonal and uncomplicated; Vasallo has a gift for melody and striking sonic textures, though it is perhaps a little hard to point to anything entirely original, apart from the Vertigo pieces. The CD is produced and presented in a 'pop' style, including an unlisted 'bonus track', an agreeable Scarlatti-ish pastiche on synthesizer. Definitely intriguing; one wonders what Vasallo might do in an extended work for large ensemble - maybe we'll find out in due course." (Records International.com)