11 tracks. Running time 47:13 Poeta is Al Conti's follow-up to his ambitious debut album Shadows. The theme this time around is the exploration of emotions felt through the poetry of music. To achieve this he employs a wide range of instrumentation from classical violin and cello to ethnic instruments such as hurdy gurdy (what a great name!) and sitar. The result is like some of Yanni's music -- Live at the Acropolis springs to mind – where Western and Eastern sounds and style meet somewhere in between. There's a mythology aspect in some tracks, especially the opener “Orpheus” and then “Dreams of Iliad”. In “Orpheus” tinkling glissandoes and a taut drone begin as an intro then flutey refrains convey an image of Orpheus calling for his lost love. A rhythm of drums then comes in, adding to the drama. There's a lot of nuances to be discovered in this piece, including some clever snippets of sound like disguised voices. The mood is lighter in “Dreams of Iliad”; here a contemplative piano melody plays out over smooth resonant pads and a percussive rhythm breaks in followed by angelic wordless vocals. Towards the end are a couple of pieces where the instrumentation is pared down to mainly acoustic elements. A harp plays a gently reflective melody in “Sacred Spaces”, joined only by discreet pads. And then in “Sonnet in C” a lovely tune on piano takes the lead against a backdrop of almost silent humming until string instruments come in to round off the track. Again Al Conti has managed to compose an album full of accessible music that will delight the listener. Lazy autumn days or romantic evenings could be enhanced by this album. And in the realm of expressive emotional music Poeta succeeds in realising its vision through the poetry of music. It's warmhearted without being twee; and the range of instrumentation used is testament to Al's talent as a musician.