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TOP CHOICES FOR 2022
According to Big Beautiful Noise/ Lee Henderson


 The entries are NOT in any certain order, neither ranked by numbers or position, 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.


Many 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).


***** MORE TO BE ADDED *****


BOX SETS

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KING CRIMSON - In The Court Of The Crimson King : King Crimson At 50 [2 x DVDs + 2 x Blu-rays + 4 CD] (DGM)
THE MUFFINS - Bakers Dozen [12 CDs/1DVD/book] (Cuneiform Records)

CDs


GRECO BASTIÁN -  With A Little Hell From My Friends  (Azafrán Media)

SHEARWATER - The Great Awakening (Polyborus Music) 

ARMY of BRIARS - Made From A Broken Star (Discus Music)
TAMSIN ELLIOTT - Frey (Penny Fiddle Records)
GRICE -Polarchoral (Hungersleep Records)
CRAIG FORTNAM - Lunar One A-Sides (Believers Roast)

WALTER HOLLAND - Air, Earth, Space, Water (Coriolis Records)

REGAL WORM - Worm! (Quatermass Records)
MIRIODOR - Elements (Cuneiform Records)

KEV HOPPER - Sans Noodles (Dimple Discs)

SWEET BILLY PILGRIM - Somapolis (Chrow Records)

ECLECTIC MAYBE BAND - Again Alors? (Discus Music)
MAHOGANY FROG - Faust  (Moonjune Records)
HFTH (HOW FAR TO HITCHIN) - Screams & Whispers (self release)
ANDERS KOPPEL - Mulberry Street Symphony [2 CD set] (Unit Records)
STEPHAN THELEN – Fractal Guitar 3  (Moonjune Records)

YANG - Designed For Disaster (Cuneiform Records)
THE LITTLE UNSAID - Live at the Pound (Carbon Moon Records)

SHEARWATER - The Great Awakening (Polyborus)

MARY FAHL - Can't Get it Out of My Head (Rimar Records)

MOTORPSYCHO - Ancient Astronauts (Stickman Records)
THUS OWLS - Who Would Hold You If The Sky Betrayed Us ? (For The Living And The Dead)

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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Payments of any amount (all donations, no matter how small, are truly cherished) can be sent by PAYPAL  to:
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This magazine exists on kind donations and music related advertisements (although the ads are limited and in no way accepted for favors in reviews). All funds are used to pay for website, domain, and the endless hours of work that is required to keep the reviews and various information  in process. Any donation is extremely appreciated. Thank you.
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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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