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BERNARDO LANZETTI
Horizontal Rain
(2021 -  SnV - Italy)

[buy this CD at your favorite independent source if possible]

 You Tube samples: (for contrast sake)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi-VqEunx28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9un7qAP9xLA

Always forever, and never a let down, will a new release by Bernardo Lanzetti (or a band with him on vocals) bring new life and a happy jolt of voltage to me. On this 2021 (which was began in 2017 and spread out over the next 4 years) release titled 'Horizontal Rain' the offering of compositions are amazing and trot from one genre to the next, often with a mixture only Lanzetti can make eargasmic.  

 This is most assuredly his most diverse album, even moving into his most aggressive (title cut brings in a metal element). The many chameleon tones from track to track only entice and excite the long time fan, and might win him quite a few new ones. A check of the two links I provided at header of review will show you the contrast of just how steep a change occurs throughout the beautifully crafted release. Comparisons like Peter Gabriel (due to his vibrato and similar voice) are at this point in time a wash. Gabriel grew old and safe, but Lanzetti seems as ripe with dare and youth as ever. It is a prize for us as long time listeners of his front man lead vocals for classic Italian progressive rock bands Aqua Fragile, PFM, Mangala Vallis, Cantautores  (more a pop band), as all are top of the mountain in delivery, dedication, and honesty. This artist is as real as it gets. He is serious with all he creates. Those in doubt or the ones who have never discovered this man, should check out the stunning double disc live DVD  'Forty Years Of Voice Impossible - Vox 40 Live'. It is worth its weight in gold. Features PFM members and plenty more. After first couple of songs, he grabs the light fantastic and is on fire.  Unstoppable!!

 So more about this solo with a huge dollop of musicians to aid in the delivery of a most magnificent project. Companions are David Cross (King Crimson), Tony Franklin, David Jackson (VDGG). Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Liquid Tension Experiment, Stick Men) Note: check out his bass on 'Heck Jack' for a thrill, Jonathan Mover (Joe Satriani, Marillion and GTR), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons Of Apollo), guitarists Andrea Cervetto and Marco Colombo, Kim Chandler on backing vocals, and many more. Bernardo performs lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, as well as helps with pre-production and programming.  All together there are nineteen musicians along with a choir (from Italy, UK, USA and Spain). The man who kept it all together was the producer Dario Mazzoli (he also played bass on 'Genial!').  A few songs were written by Peter Jack Marmot, who Bernardo met in Spain as a vocal coach.

  The first cut presents the dramatic and multi-emotional mode we would expect from him. As the platter spins, we get a merry-go-round of Japanese poetry ('Lanzhaiku') to early music, expanse on a whim, and decided curve balls on a muse's suggestion. The album stands up and declares a victory in every sense.  A parade of colors, textures, and styles all woven into a creation that if it were to be Lanzetti's last (it is forbidden), surely could be mounted on a wall of superior achievement for the prolific artist. His concept for the cover art (paraphrased from his own words) illustrates any sudden, illogical event catching you by surprise, no matter how well you are trained to defend against it.  Oddly enough, the figure is a female at war with a powerful mythological figure.  Suggesting being assaulted by media or magnetic rain she does not hesitate to sacrifice her electric guitar to protect herself and proceed forward on. He sings one song in Italian (the beautiful 'Ero un num Ero’). The last cut has a huge ancient chant vibe with choir, and stays powerful to the end, a lasting statement titled 'Different'.  His lyrics are as deep and striking as ever, supporting his voice in that unparalleled region.'Time is King' might be the real theme here as he repeats those words on track 4 (of course titled 'Time is King'), and no doubt that Bernardo has made the best of it through the many years and we all hope he makes many more recordings. The music continues to break new ground and allow escapism into a better world, or at least stare down the reality, and appreciate the art for all its multiple births and rebirths, nuances, sprints of radical glee, and broad spectrum of anything can occur. That is Bernardo Lanzetti in a capsule, but never attempt such a small space to define him and his music, as the universe it a much more capable container for him, even so.  FANTASTIC AND EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED!!  

  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson  10 - 3 - 2021
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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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