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BILLY BOTTLE & THE MULTIPLE

Unrecorded Beam

(2014 - Leo Records - UK)

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http://billybottle.bandcamp.com/

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Masterful Canterbury plus much more recording produced by the amazing and ever so multi-talented Lee Fletcher (adding various pipe organ, soundscapes, treatments, and arrangements). This will thrill fans of Hatfield & The North,  Robert Wyatt, Carla Bley, Michael Mantler and sophisticated dinner jazz.

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I rarely find anything like this type work that has a sense of wonder and soothing dreamlike quality in the progressive jazz world.  I am tempted to call it adult contemporary Canterbury because it surely contains all the goodies of yesterday’s cherished school of that music, but also has a healthy theatrical vibe.  It’s not lacking any of the interesting textures, rhythmic meters, inventive lyrics , or overall brilliance of composition.

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The subtitle says it all, “A Transformation Suite”, “an unfolding mini-epic of poetry by Thoreau, inside a prog/jazz odyssey”. This American poetry by a transcendentalist, hooked up with a British hybrid of music, instantly had my strict attention.  In fact it has a permanent place on my list of best recordings of 2014. With Billy Harbottle (piano/vocals/bass) at the helm and his wife Martine Waltier (vocals/violin) who was in the band Qadesh with Billy, along with Roz Harding (saxes), Viv Goodwin-Darke (flute), Angus Menter (trombone), Mike Outram (bass), Gary Evans (drums) and special guests Kate Westbrook (voice), Markus Reuter (touch guitar), and Jay Darlington (organ),  they all make a totally wonderful presentation.

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Billy Bottle (real name Harbottle) got hooked on the Canterbury scene at age 16. He even wrote an undergraduate dissertation on The Canterbury Scene in school and formed The Multiple for a recital of a medley of this music. So the realization of this recording has a long history and strong basis. He has many credentials including playing piano with The Mike Westbrook Big  Band, and working with Dave Sinclair performing with, co-producing and engineering for. With this talent and skill we all get a prize not to be missed. No wonder the beautiful Canterbury influences, and I for one am happy for it. A flawless performance and nothing but magic throughout. This will rank among my favorite recordings forever. “Unrecorded Beam” is an instant classic. Very Highly Recommended!

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Reviewed by Lee Henderson – July 4, 2014

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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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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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