Acqua Fragile

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Mar 18 00:59:08 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит AcquaFragile/(2017)_NewChant

43 года понадобилось итальянскому прогрессив-рок-коллективу для того, чтобы выпустить свой третий диск...
РПИ, примерно такой же, что и ранее, но Генезиса как-то поменьше. Энивей - красиво, интересно.
Весьма рекомендую!

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Line-up / Musicians

- Piero Canavera / drums, percussion and backing vocals
- Franz Dondi / bass
- Bernardo Lanzetti (PFM, Mangala Vallis) / vocals, animoog, acoustic guitar on 1, 6, and 7

with:
- Alex Giallombardo / electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals, keyboards
- Michelangelo Ferilli / acoustic guitar on `The Drowning'
- Jonathan Mover / drums, glockenspiel on 1
- Alessandro Mori / drums on 6
- Alessandro Sgobbio / synth solo on 3

- Tango Spleen Orchestra / choir
Includes:
- Mariano Speranza / piano and direction
- Elena Luppi / viola
- Andrea Marras / violin
- Francesco Bruno / bandoneon
- Gian Luca Ravaglia / upright bass
- Yalica Fo Gazan / cello
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(c) Review by kev rowland, PA

When I was asked if I would review this album, I obviously said yes, partly because I knew that I already had at least one other of theirs in my collection. Now, when you've been writing about music for as long as I have, and have the odd album or two in their collection in one format or another, sometimes things don't connect as quickly as they should. Yes, I do have another Acqua Fragile album in my collection, 'Mass-Media Stars', which was released back in 1974!! Unlike many other Italian bands at the time, they decided to perform in English, with songs that weren't always quite as symphonic as the rest of the Italian progressive scene, and these two factors really put them up against it. But, the real nail in the coffin for the band was the departure of Bernardo Lanzetti to PFM, and although the band did keep going for a while, they never recorded again.

Over the years Bernardo has appeared in different places (I remember interviewing him when he joined Mangala Vallis), but now, more than 40 years since his departure the group have reformed around him, drummer Piero Canavera and bassist Franz Dondi along with multiple guests. 'Chocolate Kings' is probably my favourite PFM album, the one where Bernardo made his debut for the band, but arguably he is singing better than ever, with a band that are bringing together styles that have as much in common with neo-prog, Gabriel-era Genesis and IQ as they do with the Italian scene. This is glorious prog, soaring and symphonic when it needs to be, layered and structured at times, but simple and reflective at others. If ever an album oozed class from every pore then this has to be it. There are ballads, there is an Italian march, there is intensity but throughout there is also always beauty. Bernardo's Chapman-style vocals have weathered and become more rounded, as happened with the Family man, but still have the stridency when it is required.

The only real question now, is do we have to wait 43 years for the next one? Superb.
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Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido