Step Right Up

Vasco Mendonça's "Step Right Up," released on November 22, 2019, under the Naxos label, is a captivating exploration of musical storytelling that spans a full hour and one minute. This album is a journey through a variety of moods and atmospheres, each track offering a unique sonic experience. The album is divided into three main sections, each with its own distinct character.

The first section, "Step Right Up," begins with a joyful and celebratory tone, inviting listeners in with an uplifting energy. The second part takes a nostalgic turn, carrying a sense of longing and desperation, before culminating in a triumphant finale. The second section, "Group Together, Avoid Speech," starts with a solemn and assertive mood, then transitions into a nocturnal ambiance, and concludes with an agitated intensity. The final section, "Unanswerable Light," begins with a distant, almost ethereal quality, and ends with a grave and restrained tone.

Vasco Mendonça's compositional prowess shines through in this diverse and engaging collection, making "Step Right Up" a compelling listen from start to finish.