ARAMO- If Only (Narek.com Records)

** (Two Stars)

Armenian pop/jazz vocalist Aramo’s latest release on Narek.com records is entitled If Only (Yerani). This particular album leans more toward pop/jazz fusion with Aramo’s trademark jazz scat style of vocal delivery. Unlike other Armenian pop singers, Aramo has a more varied and versatile voice. His vocal traits are certainly put to the test as If Only is the classic example of an album that has some very bright moments only to be undone with too much fluff.

The first couples of songs are really quite remarkable in terms of arrangement and performances. The first track is the famous “The Wind Blows” with a nice tempo change in the middle of the song signaling a medley of songs. Aramo’s voice is both exciting and smooth along with the very strong instrumental arrangements. “Armenian Sketches” is the song that sets Aramo apart from most in his genre. He scats the “Shalakho” in what is certainly one of the more inventive songs I’ve ever heard on an Armenian record. It’s Aramo at his finest. From there the album wallows into murky love ballads and experimental pop songs that really don’t work. His fine voice is wasted by the need to cater to a wider audience that obviously likes this stuff. You can’t fault him for trying to please his fans, but, I suspect that his followers would much rather hear more challenging material.

The reworked Komitas piece “Yeri Yandum” is well done as is his remix of “Ninar”. “Yeri Yandum” has a nice hip-hop flavor coupled with Aramo’s frenetic voice while “Ninar” is the remix version of his Armenian Jazz Band version of the same song. The other six songs on the album range from mediocre to poor as the cheese factor starts to play heavily into the equation. Thank goodness we are not talking about a lack of talent here, rather, a poor choice of songs and instrumentation. If Only is definitely worth listen if only to familiarize yourself with a rising talent from Armenia with a unique style.