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ALARMIST
Sequesterer
(2019 - Small Pond Recordings - Ireland)

https://alarmist.bandcamp.com/

What other bands do you know who gather and blend everything from post rock, jazz fusion, electronica, tropical, ambient, minimalism, abstract, avant-garde, and broad strokes of math rock? Meet Dublin, Ireland's brilliant all instrumental creators Alarmist. This 4th release pulls out all the stops, allows the flood to fill the valley with rivers of tireless progressive, torrid passages, all in music that acts as true tonic, to display their dexterity and virtuoso skills, An album that instantly grabs you around the neck, shakes you, sits you down in a comfy chair, and force feeds you some of the finest musical craft on the planet.

Originally a 4 piece all instrumental math/post/fusion of sorts band from Ireland, with  members Neil Crowley (drums and keyboards), Elis Czerniak (guitar and keyboards), Osgar Dukes (drums, percussion), and Barry O'Halpin (guitar and keyboards), on this 2019 release (their actual 2nd full length album), they still have Osgar as a guest on drums (track #1 and #3) but otherwise operate as the trio without Dukes. Recorded from 2017 thru 2019 (which Alarmist call "forever and ever"), at The Meadow in Wicklow, Ireland, engineered and mixed by Deaf Brothers, the 3 members do all the composing and arranging themselves. Alarmist have a fairly short discography but the output is strong, beginning with a self titled mini album released in 2011 on Eleven Eleven label, then another mini album in 2013 called 'Pal Magnet' by the band (no label), followed by 'Popular Demain' in 2015 on Small Pond Recordings. 'Sequesterer' (also on Small Pond) is their most fully realized and strongest effort to date.

They will be remembered now, and most likely become well known in all progressive music circles. They most certainly caught my attention, and kept me on 'stunned' throughout the first and second listen. With not so much a scent of weakness, Alarmist sail full speed ahead into their own universe. The collage of styles glisten with past space-age dimensions, and parade a spectacular momentum that promptly approaches your senses, and transfers all its bravura. Possible comparisons are futile, and the ingredients are given, but no other band folds these elements together like Alarmist. The job for the reader and ones who love inventive music, is to go to Bandcamp or their website and listen to their music, and kindly buy some, so musicians such as these can keep releasing outstanding records.

The members have an expansive knowledge of genres, able to switch gears with spatial jazz chords, suspended post rock lushness, hyper electronic escapism, domino progressions, intricate arithmetic riffs, and spell inducing cooing, all in one release of 9 compositions, in 39:25 minutes. It is all at once fresh, full of life bubbling over, and quite exciting to the ears and mind. So much so, it has easily made my TOP CHOICES list of 2019. GIGANTIC RECOMMENDATION.

  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 11 - 25 - 2019
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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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