At 60, it's no surprise Di Meola is slowing down, but in his case it's not so much physically as musically that the guitar man, famed for his attack and speed, seems to have discovered the joys of space and the slow life. Not that this is anything other than a Di Meola album: that Ovation acoustic nylon tone is still there, the Les Paul lines still occasionally thunder, but on the likes of ‘Et Cetera In E Minor’, he allows a lyrical lilt to break through. Di Meola's world music musings and his Piazzolla driven recordings have of course pre-figured this style change, while the move to acoustic work was precipitated by his long-standing tinnitus. But this is easily his most assured marrying of latin styles, sudden Les Paul colourings and richly layered acoustic textures. With no bass, and restrained keys, Di Meola at last allows his guitar to breathe, especially on the closing ‘La Lluvia’ (a rare writing credit for a sideman) while on ‘Stephanie’ he is positively graceful. For Di Meola fans Elysium will indeed be heaven of a kind.