Indeed, it's good to be back. And to me, this might be the best Arena album ever. I already thought "... separation" might be the best. "... sky" had a few minutes too many of neutral, a bit nondescript material, but the best 65% of it certainly topped almost everything. To me, Manzi is the first singer that represents a great asset, a point of interest, or a source of goosebumps. The others have been, on balance, ok. Definitely a few nice passages here and there, that lifted the song, but also the odd part where severe limitations became obvious.
I appreciate Manzi the way my old man appreciated Pavarotti. There is a profound pleasure in hearing a singer do things you just know is not within reach for anyone's neighbour.
Double vision is largely made up of SONGS, as good as the best SONGS on previous albums. (Friday's dream, What if, The eyes of Lara Moon, Crying for help VIII, How did it come to this, etc.) Even the epic is essentially a composition of several brilliant SONGS.
I love it. And now, after more than a thousand miles and a couple of nights' rest, we will start driving even further south, because tonight is the night!! 😎
