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TOP CHOICES FOR 2020 According to Big Beautiful Noise/ Lee Henderson

NOTE: 2020 was a trying time for artists all over the world. Those musicians who did release recordings should ALL be on a TOP CHOICE LIST, and I even considered just making this statement and leaving my usual year end Top Choice list blank otherwise, but this pandemic is flowing over into 2021 so we take a look at what came to me in 2020 and rocked my world.  I made this 2020 list with the same format as 2019, where I do not assign numbers to the entries. As explained before, had too many people misunderstanding those numbers as a ranking of first, second etc.  

Easy enough. The entries ARE in alphabetical order, as always, and should only be seen as a whole list, not what comes first or last. They are ALL great recordings, or they would not have made it to my TOP CHOICES list.

The year of 2020 has been tremendous for creative music despite the Covid-19 world we all are facing. A thank you to all the labels, individual artists, promotional operations, and people in general, who sent physical compact discs (we still hold those as the status for great listening and review) thru the tough year.

Most of the recordings have been reviewed (or will be) in Big Beautiful Noise and you can find them in Archives (which is also listed in alphabetical order).
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REISSUES

OFFICER! - Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes (Klanggalerie)  Originally released as a vinyl LP in 1988, NO 001.


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2020 NEW RELEASES
 
ROSIE ABBOTT - Magnified (self release)

AKSAK MABOUL - Pieces (Crammed Discs)

ARCH GARRISON - The Bitter Lay (Believer's Roast)
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ARMY OF MOTHS - By Word Of Moth (self release)

ARTCHIPEL ORCHESTRA - Truly Yours, Musiche Di Phil Miller (Musica Jazz)
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BABAL - Dreams For Imaginary Puppet Show On The Radio (Melodic Revolution Records)

LAVINIA BLACKWALL - Muggington Lane End (self release)

BLAIR - Contes centristes de l'éternel déclin (Gnougn Records/ MisèRecords) = vinyl released in 2020

BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN - s/t (37d03d)

COLLECTRESS - Different Geographies (self release)

DANTCHEV: DOMAIN - Say It (Glomama Music)

DEEP ENERGY ORCHESTRA - The Return (7D Media)

DEERHOOF - Future Teenage Cave Artists (Joyful Noise Recordings)
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DWIKI DHARMAWAN - Hari Ketiga (The Third Day) (MoonJune Records)

DINOSAUR - To The Earth (Edition Records)
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TOM DONCOURT and MATTIAS OLSSON'S CATHEDRAL - s/t (Roth Händle Recordings)
 
TOM DONCOURT - Lantern (self release)
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FLAIRCK - Back Alive! (Home Records)
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KEVIN GODLEY - Muscle Memory (The State51 Conspiracy)

LE GRAND SBAM - Furvent (Dur et Doux)
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GRYPHON - Get Out Of My Father's Car (Talking Elephant)

HOMUNCULUS RES - andiamo in giro di notte e ci consumiamo nel fuoco (AMS Records)

GARY HUSBAND & MARKUS REUTER - Music Of Our Times (MoonJune Records)

THE INNOCENCE MISSION - See You Tomorrow (Thérèse Records)
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ISLET - Eyelet (Fire Records)
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JAKKO M. JAKSZYK (JAKKO) - Secrets & Lies (InsideOutMusic)

LOGAN KANE NONET - Nope, Science (Orenda Records)

ANDERS KOPPEL/ HENRIK DAM THOMSEN - Still Life (Dacapo Records)

EMMI KUJANPAA - Nani (Nordic Notes)

LIMITE - Mountains Inside (Off Records)

MANNA/MIRAGE - Face (New House Music)
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BRIAN Ó HEADRA & FIONA MACKENZIE - Tuath (Naxos)

ORCHESTRA OF THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE - Theta Five (Discus Music)

PIIRAINEN/BLOM/COMPANY - Matka: The Path (Bafe's Factory)

NICK PROL and the PROLETARIANS - An Erstwhile Alphabestiary: Book One (self release - USA)

MARKUS REUTER - Truce (MoonJune Records)

ALEX REX - Andromeda (Tin Angel Records)
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TERJE RYPDAL - Conspiracy (ECM)
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SALT HOUSE - Huam (Hudson Records)

SANGUINE HUM - A Trace Of Memory (Bad Elephant Music)

ELIZABETH S. - Gather Love (self release)

JENNY STURGEON - The Living Mountain (Hudson Records)

TAUTUMEITAS - Dziesmas no Aulejas : Songs from Aulejas (CPL-Music)  
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STEPHAN THELEN - World Dialogue [featuring Kronos Quartet]  (RareNoiseRecords)

JG THIRLWELL & SIMON STEENSLAND ‎– Oscillospira (Ipecac Recordings)
     
KAVUS TORABI - Hip To The Jag (Believers Roast)

TRYING SCIENCE - Next  [Limited Edition 4 song EP]  (self release - USA)

TWELVE THOUSAND DAYS - Field's End (Final Muzik)

RACHEL WALKER - Gaol (Ros Dearg Records)

 
AQUA FRAGILE_Moving Fragments_COVER.jpg

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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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