18 months in the making - That Dangerous Sparkle is Simon Scardanelli's most ambitious album to date. Nine brand new songs arranged and produced on an epic scale! Accompanied by some of the finest musicians around and incorporating some of Scardanelli's unique acousmatic compositional techniques, That Dangerous Sparkle is a beautiful listen! REVIEW - Properganda Magazine June July 2007 Conceived on an epic scale this CD proves a real surprise. Once a hit maker as half of pop-rockers Big Bam Boo, Scardanelli has been emersed in serious music study over the past decade, following a period of living in New York composing installation works for art events and scores for experimental films. He has definitely brought some of that experimental flair with him into this new CD,although here it’s used to add texture to what can mostly be described as conventional song structures. The albums opener, The Valentines, starts with the sound of waves before the acoustic guitar and piano kick the song into life. Simon’s vocals have something of the David McComb about them and The Triffids are a good reference point.There’s also a touch of Scott Walker as the first half of the album gives up a series of epic ballads. In the middle of She Comes the tune suddenly gives way to clattering percussion and soprano sax drenched in reverb and the ground has shifted. Surpise twists follow, with Risky Business and the following It’s Only Life taking serious left turns. This is ambitious stuff that demands serious attention. Sid Cowens REVIEW - Chip Withrow, Musesmuse.com CD Review: This disc is off the well-worn path of what I listen to most, which makes it both challenging and refreshing. Simon Scardanelli reminds me of a couple of lush-sounding artists from the past (Roxy Music and Roger Waters’ solo work, for example) and also brings to mind some of the atmospheric, dramatic pop offered today (such as Coldplay and Keane). The album opens with the prettily-strummed, synth-washed “The Valentines.” This tale of star-crossed lovers builds in intensity, Scardanelli’s low rumble of a voice becoming more plaintive as layers of instruments and backing vocals are added. On “They Dance,” Scardanelli’s vocal might be a bit overwrought, but the percussion-and-arpeggioed-synth loop is hypnotic. Then comes perhaps the best track, the gospel-ish “Let There Be a Place,” a well-conceived blend of electronica and power ballad. A choir of backing vocals is the perfect heartfelt foil for Scardanelli’s weathered, world-weary delivery. The title track is a letdown after “Place,” and “She Comes” also starts out ponderously. But a couple of minutes in, tension starts to build, and "She Comes" bursts into frenzied sax and thumping bass guitar and snare. I would like to hear that groove developed with lyrics. “Risky Business” starts with sweet yet mournful sax, and it drags some before settling into a heavy backbeat and sweeping synth/strings. “It’s Only Life” is the fully-realized serious groove that “She Comes” and “Risky” hint at, a Bowie-meets-U2 burner. Scardanelli’s guttural spoken vocal is by turns humorous and sinister. “When You’re Lying” is a simple, pretty acoustic ballad – a nice change from the density of the other tracks. And the closing “Take Your Hand Away” is similarly charming, morphing back and forth between a Cole Porter-style jazzy plea and a Harry Nillson-style tear-jerker. That Dangerous Sparkle stumbles just a few times, but overall it is an ambitious grand statement from Simon Scardanelli. As a writer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Scardanelli is a craftsman who deserves an in-depth listen. REVIEW from Base.ad Written by Evan Parker Saturday, 19 May 2007 "To be honest, when I first pressed play on Brummie singer/songwriter Simon Scardanelli’s third album That Dangerous Sparkle I was expecting to hear dreary and inoffensive James Blunt type music. I was even more put off by the fact that he was previously in an (now defunct) ’80s rock duo called Big Bam Boo which some of you older music fans might have heard of, or not. However I was surprised with the versatility of the album. The album sees him flirting with folk flutes, subtle keyboard textures and bleepy electro bits. The album can be divided into two parts musically. The first half packed with powerful melodic ballads, with Scardanelli crooning away over flutes and acoustic guitar. The album takes a dark experimental twist halfway through the tense ‘She Comes’ where Scardanelli’s wail pierces through the tranquil acoustic guitar and summons a frantic saxophone solo from the pits of hell. The second half also sees Scardanelli breaking away from his croon and singing in his own natural accent. The album highlight is the vocoder heavy ‘Risky Business’ which sees the return of the unsettling saxophone, which this time battles with a haunting organ. At 9:11 minutes long the track never feels bloated or pretentious. You never know what is lurking around That Dangerous Sparkle’s dark corner, but whatever it is will always shock and surprise. Scardanelli is always prepared to take a risk, and we should all hope that it is this experimentation that is the future of British singer/songwriters." Sound on Sound Magazine, December 2007. Sam Ingliss “Simon’s greatest asset is a fantastic singing voice, and he makes full use of its capabilities here. His performance on tracks such as “They Dance” bear comparison to the likes of Scott Walker.” TRACKS 1/ The Valentines - a sea shanty - a tale of two travellers: Al Hughes - Bass Guitar, Pete Wingate - Whistle, Nick Gibbs - Drums, Andy Casserly - Accordian, Gemma Robinson - Backing Vocals 2/ They Dance - Johnny Miller - Bass 3/ Let There Be A Place - Johnny Miller on Bass, a gospel choir provided by Charmaine Kay, T.J. and Charmaine Burton, with an unforgettable "Hosanna" sung by Brenda Shah 4/ That Dangerous Sparkle - Johnny Miller - Bass 5/ She Comes - Beebe - Soprano Saxophone, Dorothée Hausser - Voix Françoise, Johnny Miller - Bass 6/ When You're Lying 7/ Risky Business - when you hear that Scardanelli spent over two weeks searching for the "perfect reverb" for the Sax solo on this song, you'll understand why it took 18 months to complete the album! So who played on this epic track? Mikov hit the drums very very hard indeed, and Johnny Miller thumped a most musical Bass guitar. Beebe then added his inimitable screaming Soprano Saxophone. 8/ It's Only Life - Inspired by real-life scullduggery and venomous enemies trying to have a pop at Scardanelli, revenge is indeed a dish best served ice cold...with Mikov on drums and Johnny Miller on Bass. 9/ Take Your Hand Away All other instruments played by Simon Scardanelli - acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards and synthesisers, treble recorder, harmonium, drum programming and acousmatic sonic treatments. Thanks to Sam Chittenden for the photo of Scardanelli, and design and layout of the album. Cover photo by kind permission of Sharpe's Pottery Museum, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.