Performer Notes

The Black Heart Procession: Paulo Zappoli (vocals, guitar, organ, synthesizer, percussion, saw); Tobias Nathaniel (guitar, piano, organ, optigan, bass, percussion); Joe Plummer (xylophone, drums, percussion); Dimitri Dziensuwski.
Additional personnel includes: Matt Parker (acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, bass); Matt Resovich (violin); Charles Curtis, Joyce Rooks (cello); Jason Crane (trumpet); Jim Austin (acoustic bass).
Personnel: Paulo Zappoli, Pall A. Jenkins (vocals, guitar, organ, synthesizer, percussion, musical saw); Dimitri Dziensuwski (vocals); Tobias Nathaniel (guitar, piano, organ, percussion); Mark Turner Parker (acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar); Matt Parker (acoustic guitar); Charles Curtis, Joyce Rooks (cello); Jason Crane (trumpet); Joe Plummer (xylophone, drums, percussion); Jim Austin (upright bass); Traei Wooley, Susanna Waiche, Arabella Makalani, Liz Janes (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: The Black Heart Procession; Zack Reinig.
Recording information: SDRL (11/2001-05/2002).
Photographer: O.
Unknown Contributor Role: Dimitri Dziensuwski.
The Black Heart Procession took a chapter out of the Nick Cave book of cool for their fourth album, Amore del Tropico. It's a sultry, mystical book of romance. The crime of love is the culprit in this murder mystery and the Black Heart Procession mix a tantalizing session of lounge and blues aesthetics, dark guitars, and lush string arrangements. It's an epic move for this Californian foursome -- the concept is brilliant and musically the Black Heart Procession are sonically at their best. Amore del Tropico starts off with the ten-second orchestration titled "The End of Love." The cinematic approach taken from the beginning sets the scene; "Tropics of Love" and "Why I Stay" shimmy with a Cuban edge. Vocalist Paulo Zappoli croons with a sexy flair while sifting through a world without heart. Steps are retraced on the sinister storm of "The Waiter #4," while "Did You Wonder" spirals around megalomania and Tobias Nathaniel's pinch-hitting guitar work. As the album draws to a close, elements of discovery are more apparent. "Before the People" presents the suspects while muted vocal distortions of "Fingerprints" linger around eerie violins. In the end, the soul who was searching for an answer falls to fate. However, the Black Heart Procession believe in the light on the other side and the countrified haze of "The One Who Has Disappeared" is an obvious reason why. Amore del Tropico gives the gift of love's bruised heart. The mystery of love's pain is never really solved and that's the beauty of this record. ~ MacKenzie Wilson

Professional Reviews

Q (12/02, p.97) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Admirably fresh..."

Uncut (12/02, p.131) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...[This album] sees them flipping open the dial while retaining that lovely, dusty feel of heat-seared desert earth..."

Magnet (10/02, pp.78-80) - "...Zappoli and Nathaniel are winking from under their shrouds, reminding us that laughter is often the prelude to tears..."

Mojo (Publisher) (1/03, p.93) - "...This remains a deep red velvet swoon of an album..."

Album: Amore del Tropico
#	Song Title		Time
1)	The End of Love	More Info...
2)	Tropics of Love	More Info...
3)	Broken World	More Info...
4)	Why I Stay	More Info...
5)	The Invitation	More Info...
6)	Did You Wonder	More Info...
7)	A Sign On the Road	More Info...
8)	Sympathy Crime	More Info...
9)	The Visitor	More Info...
10)	The Waiter #4	More Info...
11)	A Cry for Love	More Info...
12)	Before the People	More Info...
13)	Only One Way	More Info...
14)	Fingerprints	More Info...
15)	The One Who Has Disappeared	More Info...

Album: Amore del Tropico
#	Song Title		Time
1)	The End of Love	More Info...
2)	Tropics of Love	More Info...
3)	Broken World	More Info...
4)	Why I Stay	More Info...
5)	The Invitation	More Info...
6)	Did You Wonder	More Info...
7)	A Sign On the Road	More Info...
8)	Sympathy Crime	More Info...
9)	The Visitor	More Info...
10)	The Waiter #4	More Info...
11)	A Cry for Love	More Info...
12)	Before the People	More Info...
13)	Only One Way	More Info...
14)	Fingerprints	More Info...
15)	The One Who Has Disappeared	More Info...