Georgio Valentino, a Greek-American under a vaguely Italian pseudonym from Palm Beach who escaped to Brussels several years ago with only his books and his musical equipment, is the sort of musician doomed to settle for a cult following in the U.S.

It's a shame that Valentino isn't more well known, despite a roster of albums and singles reaching back to 2007; his writing is demonstrative of someone who aspires to reach the greats, rather than compete with what's current. Mille Plateaux is a wildly ambitious double-album recorded in five countries. It is at once Ocean Rain and the scoring of Nino Rota, the depth of Valentino's dashing baritone matched only by Peter Murphy. If anyone were a proper vampire, it'd be Georgio Valentino, and this is meant as a sincere compliment.