Italian label has re-issued some of the one-time Malmsteen vocalist’s solo output, augmented with five or six bonus tracks, many of which are lifted from his Essential Ballads collection. In the case of a soulful, but not-BW&BK endorsed “Beautiful Mess” (aptly entitled, albeit it less of the former, more of the latter), it’s a DVD of four promo vids, as well as newbies ‘Heart Starts Healing’ and ‘Take U Over With Me’. The other two digi-paks offer a diverse slice of music, “Lost In Translation” (originally released in 2002, now augmented to 17 originals plus an unplugged rendition of ‘Soul Divine’) is by far the most “rock” album (in a Sunset Strip sort of way), from the opening ‘Believe In Me’ through the title cut to the swagger of ‘Dulce Lady’

Actually, the acoustic bonuses belie the upbeat spirit on the rest of the platter. The more subdued, piano dominated “Prism” has a few moments, including the Sly Stone standard, ‘I Want To Take You Higher’, which comes complete with backing brass horns, ‘How Long’ and the live ‘Again 2 Be Found’ bonus! Anyone looking for Yngwie inspired metal will be sorry, but that’s not to say fans of melodic hard rock (or Soto’s recent stint with Journey) can’t find something to enjoy.