top of page
CATHERINE RUDIE_The Mobius Kiss_COVER.jp
CATHERINE RUDIE
The Mobius Kiss
(2019 - self release - distributed by Hudson Records - UK)

https://catherinerudie.bandcamp.com/releases

A delicate and spiritual masterpiece of spatial rite of outflow by Catherine Rudie, who performs vocals, and/or sounds, and guitar on 10 songs in a short but penetrating 35:25 minutes. The hushed nature of her voice and the innocent yet challenging lyrics call attention to issues of our planet and the human impact on careless and often greedy acts. The modern and inventive use of keyboards (various effects and featuring the Roli Seaboard), savory atmosphere, sparse percussion, and measured pace, keeps the suspense and curiosity illuminated. Catherine did the cover art, which was the base images in the tropical hothouses at Kew Gardens in London, overlaid with a lip image often used to illustrate different lipstick shades in online beauty stores. In a witty move, on the title cut 'The Mobius Song', she speaks random words in the background - ‘Honolulu Honey’, ‘Electric Orange’, ‘Clueless’, ‘Safe Word’ etc. These are all some of the most popular commercial lipsticks shades. The various play on words and imagery is hidden in multiple places on the album. A divine and stunning release.

The foundation of what 'The Mobius Kiss' was inspired from was a double blow Catherine experienced with one, being a long romantic relationship coming to an end, and then the creative community being broken up by the gentrification where she lived and had her studio. All the other artists she knew and worked with (note: she was a member of Fresh Tracks Unknown Animals, a collective songwriting group) were also displaced. She found herself in a strange world and one she had to come to grips with. This new frontier opened up surprising avenues, and thus, the old experiences with the new outlook, formed her creative energies for her first solo album. Dualism came to be in an immaculate conception. Nice guest spots from Stephen Hodd (sounds, effects, and percussion or guitar, and also co-produced the album with Catherine), Susuma Mukai (kalimba -track 9), Tom Fryer (piano - track 10), and a small chorus of Chris Brambley, Dianna Shayakhmetova, Jen McBride, Luke Tipton, Sarah Culross, Sheep Mouton, Stephen Hodd, and Uri Sade (sang on track 5). The album began birth 5 years ago when Catherine first wrote 'Harbour of Grudges' and 'God of the Insects'. She  composed 'Chasing Wasps' and 'The Crown' a year and a half ago. Everything was recorded over winter and spring 2017/2018, in which she did secretly on weekends in the office at a freelance job she had. It then took around 6 months of final production, and from there, she found distribution from Hudson Records. The journey was long but so worth it to the lucky listener.

There is an auspicious but foreboding message in some tracks like 'Everyday Dangers' (co-written with Becci Wallace), and a somewhat lonely isolated style reminding of Suzanne Vega on several tunes. She can get lush, but 'The Mobius Kiss' is scattered with quaint beautiful short stories, with such a mighty shimmer, that the starkness becomes a dreamy mellow palette of resonance, and is truly addictive. Rudie uses sorrowful folk elements bridged with honest charm and flawless execution in her compositions. She now resides in London, England but her education in Gaelic singing and bagpipe performance, plus growing up in the north of Scotland (Bettyhill), aid her in the skills sweetly intertwined here. Some of the circular songs have a trance-like psalm purity to them. The meditative and reflective qualities abound, and the last cut 'God of Insects' sends chills with The Unthanks similarities. Simply gorgeous to the bone. This singer songwriter's debut claims a place on my TOP CHOICES list for 2019. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 11 - 16 - 2019
​

 
AQUA FRAGILE_Moving Fragments_COVER.jpg

© 2023 by Name of Site. Proudly created with Wix.com

 
 
BIG BEAUTIFUL NOISE
 

A  magazine focused on inventive, progressive, and creative music in any genre that stands out from the rest
​
​
​
​
Payments of any amount (all donations, no matter how small, are truly cherished) can be sent by PAYPAL  to:
drumlee@proton.me
​
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.
​
Donate with PayPal

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


 

bottom of page