If you were a big fan of last year’s Electro De Perfecto, then Mike Viola’s newest is the perfect “bonus disc” companion to it. It’s got half new songs and half stripped down interpretations. The opener “Secret Radio” is a love letter to fans,”for people like you. Who keep it turned on. for people like you. I’ve been singing to all along.” The album is sparsely constructed with the help of LA-based violists Eric Summer and Kate Reddish. The string arrangements are clean and simple, lending warmth to Viola’s unmistakable croon.
“Happy & Normal” benefits from the plucked strings and its melody is a mantra of frustration that sticks to your brain. “Primary Care” is an even more personal song that is part confessional, part therapy. One of the best tracks here is “I’m Your Dog” a perfect 2 minute ode to unconditional love that rivals anything Stevie Wonder ever wrote. The previously released material from Electro De Perfecto also works well, especially “El Mundo De Perfecto” with the lines “It’s been a bad day for the whipping boy…” sounding even more poignant than the original. The album creates a soft intimate atmosphere that’s a real treat for Viola’s fans.
