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ALAN SIMON
Excalibur: The Ladies of the Lake
(2018 - Babaika Productions - EUROPE)

  This is a themed collection release from exceptional Celtic dreamland/fantasy musical composer, producer, and musician Alan Simon. So why buy a compilation verses getting all the previous full blown Excalibur recordings (I - IV + Tristan & Yseult)? All fans of lush symphonic Celtic, that is often dramatic, certainly should own all of Simon's releases, but the frosted gift which has the most gorgeous songs featuring the supremely talented female vocalists, all on one handy go to disc, is this one. The original full issues are full of great instrumental works as well, but the focus here are the female vocal cuts.

For doubters, 'The Ladies of the Lake' sounds like a brand new all original project full of compositions that both melt the heart and send chills down your spine. Vocal performances by monumental singers like Moya Brennan (Clannad. solos), Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span, solos, etc), Karan Casey (Solas, solos, etc), Jacqui McShee (Pentangle, The John Renbourn Group, Dave Pegg, Bert Jansch, etc), Kohann (a trio featuing  Michele Gaurin  and Sylvere Morisson), Siobhan Owen, Nikki Matheson (no relation to Karen Matheson), Sonja Kristina (Curved Air, plus a host of guests and solos), and Maite Itoiz (a Spanish soprano, known mostly with her husband John Kelly).  Some of these names may be less familiar, but hearing them will change all that. You will not find a more beautiful recording of songs in the haunting fantasy Celtic crossover genre than this. Fifteen tracks cover a broad range of moods from chill to romantic, or just sensuous. Truly ethereal. RECOMMENDED!   

©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 2 - 9 - 2019
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BIG BEAUTIFUL NOISE
 

A  magazine focused on inventive, progressive, and creative music in any genre that stands out from the rest
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ACQUA FRAGILE
Moving Fragments
(2023 - Maracash - Italy)


https://maracashrecords.bandcamp.com/album/moving-fragments


  A group who have the uncanny talent of keeping their classic  sound along with staying up tpo date. This amazing return is from 1970's Italian progressive rock outfit, with frontier man lead vocal Bernardo Lanzetti, who made this band and some PFM albums so specifically brilliant. At this decade, to expect more beauty would be a fantasy, yet it is set before your ears, even with the first notes, this masterpiece of Italian, (and not only Italian) progressive rock that certainly grasps the notion of what the genre of "progressive" was always meant to be. ACQUA FRAGILE create another sweetly classic knockout recording, not with even a heavy breath of past to present effort.  In fact, it sounds and feels more authentic than ever.  Bernardo sounds as if he never aged a week, and all muscians present are at full force, not passing up the chance to make another massively classic album.   An album to put Acqua Fragile at the top of the few chosen progressive rock choices of all time. The first song ('Her Shadlows Torture' 05:52 - editors note:  A misspell on the 'Shadows' which is on Bandcamp at this writing - but is correct as 'Her Shadow's Torture' on physical CD)  hug you and give all relief, as to any possible doubts of a long awaited fourth album by this top notch Italian band. I claim it will leave your heart lay bleeding. Grab the spectral energy and enjoy a glimpse of beautiful cocoon birth.

  Not one song is with sacrifice, even a wink of lamb. In fact, some elements are added to further enchance and stun the audience, such as inclusive female vocals by Rossella Volta. The bulk of the outfit is Piero Canavera (drums, percussion, vocals),  Franz Dondi (bass), Bernardo Lanzetti (lead vocals, guitar, Glovox),  Stefano Pantaleoni (keyboards),  Claudio Tuma (guitars), with special aid by (aforementioned vocalist Rosella Voita) ,  Gigi Cavalli Cocchi - drums (1,6),  Sergio Ponti - drums (4,9), Stef Burns- guitar (2),  Brian Belloni - guitar (4),  Davide Piombino - 7 string guitar (5),  and David Jackson - sax & flute (6). Could you ask for more?   After one listen you cannot want more. Thank Maracash label (Italy) for standing behind so many great Italian artists who have done the blood, sweat, and tears in earlier years, and deserve the attention now.
Although the band name translates to 'Fragile Water', it might be better described as Precious Water at this point and time in our decreasingly cared for world. Perhaps even better, Rare Water. The beauty of this entire recording is apparent, true, sincere, and a step forward. Better than one would dream of, past the point of how all old fans could imagine, and  actually done in the upper atmospheres of what anyone could have dreamed of. Everyone is top notch and most of all, Lanzetti is 100% present, making it another masterpiece.  It is my deep recommendartion for all fans of both classic progressive rock and the new fields of progressive music to give this a direct and full attention (no distractions) listen. RECOMMENDED.
  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 1 - 19 - 2024


 

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