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COLLECTRESS_Different Geographies_COVER.
COLLECTRESS
Different Geographies
(2020 - self release - UK)

https://peelerrecords.bandcamp.com/

It could be described as an impressionistic group who make musical portraits set in gold frames. Docile treasures of works from this unique quartet of another kind, that creates sage dreamy, wistful, telegraphic coils of chimera. I was instantly attracted to Collectress 'Mondegreen' (2014), their debut and elusive vaulting and ever spiraling release of gems. Then the long overdue follow-up six years later (due to them all being in such different places physically and mentally over these last few years) comes under the title 'Different Geographies' (2020), not only sealing the spacious and sweeping universe that they frolic and create in, but also hereby building an ivory tower of master moves on their chessboard, to altogether consume the warhorse music lover into ardent delight.

Going twenty steps to the left of Philip Glass, a couple of moonshots past Kronos Quartet, giving plenty of bows to Soft Verdict (the Wim Mertens brilliance), and sky sailing with many golden aged classical eagles, on this sophomore album, Alice Eldridge - cello, Korg MS10, laptop feedback, piano, Rhodes, vocals, percussion / Rebecca Waterworth - cello, piano, vocals, percussion / Caroline Weeks - flute, guitar, Yamaha VSS200, piano, Rhodes, vocals, percussion / Quinta - violin, piano, Rhodes, Korg MS10, Yamaha VSS200, vocals, percussion, saw / Featuring: Andy Waterworth - Double Bass (In the Streets, in the Fields & Landing) / and Pepo the dog - vocals (In the Streets, In the Fields), all make an even more invigorating recording.

Based in and around London, the four all female musicians stay busy. Alice Eldridge is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Sussex investigating value of listening in conservation  (ecoacoustics) and ecosystemic ideas in  music. Rebecca Waterworth is a senior lecturer in fine art and 3D at UCA  Rochester exploring the combination of vision and sound in performance and  installation. Caroline Weeks combines her work as a mother of two small children with instrumental teaching and  performance. Quinta is a composer, touring session multi-instrumentalist, orchestrator/arranger and current PRS Composer Award grantee. If I have listed some artists that Collectress remind me of, it is proof here with some of the people they have worked with. For instance Rebecca plays with Penguin Cafe, the new version of Penguin Cafe Orchestra, which is led by Arthur Jeffes (Simon Jeffes son, who led the original PCO). She also played on a low key alternative band called Chimp, and on Clearlake 'Cedars'. Quinta (Katherine Mann) has worked with Bat for Lashes, Penguin Cafe, Marques Toliver, Patrick Wolf, Radiohead’s Philip Selway, and more. Caroline has released albums as Caroline Weeks as well as played with Hamilton Yarns and Bat  for Lashes. Alice played bass with Lianne Hall, cello with Mary Hampton, Seth Bennett's low frequency  string quartet, in Brain Dead Ensemble, as well  as various European improv outfits like Seen. So now you see the ground the quartet cover.

The music consists of sprightly bars of striking and mercurial pieces, some having even more glassy and capacious atmosphere. Excursions aglow, they add the two guests which gives even more roomy breadth. The ensemble lavishly bestows floating pastoral classical Canterbury and the warmth becomes yours. With no fears or reasons to hurry, and produce anything but the beauty they desire, Collectress pace each composition the same as nature growing exotic roses, only when the conditions become perfect, or so it appears. With a submergence in efflux and sometimes otherworldly terrain, the forward and peerless musicians have become mathematicians of invention. So open to venture, as if the spirit moves them in mysterious ways, then allows them to move some more. Sometimes wayward.

The title 'Different Geographies' speaks loud to works laid out on this brilliant display of what is an instant classic. A distinguished pearl in a sad sea of random ooze, this scrupulous recording is a crown among many thorns. A prismatic soul caressing encounter you will never regret or forget. This is new blood, and with a Collectress performance, anything can happen. Priceless! A GIGANTIC RECOMMENDATION.

     ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 4 - 14 - 2020
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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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