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DEWA BUDJANA & TOHPATI_ JANAPATI_COVER.j
DEWA BUDJANA & TOHPATI
 Janapati
(2019 - POS Entertainment - Indonesia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi62dPagt20
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http://dewabudjana.com/

http://www.tohpati.com/

The live show alone will be enough to blow jazz fusion lovers out of their seat. This studio album is the next best thing, allowing one to play on a high end system and catch an aural festival full of fiery fusion and also gentle all instrumental ballad, backed with full orchestra. While the live show has a good deal of talking, you can relieve yourself of that with this CD. But do not miss the link provided above to see the live performance, with dancers, and a delight to the eyes and ears.

The disc starts off with a blitz of orchestra and then the two accomplished Indonesian guitarists (Dewa Budjana - guitars/ and Tohpati  - guitars) backed by : Adhitya Pratama - bass/ Demas Narawangsa - drums, and not only The Czech Symphony Orchestra, but also Budapest Scoring Orchestra. I actually found the studio version to have a few more forceful moments, and some more biting drum parts. The balance of killer jazz fusion (Holdsworth style at times) and beautiful ballads ('Rainy Days' is a tearful one) is exquisite. Some of it reminds of me an old classic, in fact a favorite of mine from Jan Akkerman and  Claus Ogerman ‎called 'Aranjuez', that had this same richness and partly aching beauty.

There is nary a lost moment of outstanding music here. The orchestras are powerful enough on their own, and to pillow this band of two of the finest guitarists on the planet with those two ensembles, results in an undeniable masterpiece. There are an equal amount of compositions by Budjana and Tohpati individually, and in union as well. From the liquid power jazz ('D Romance') to classical delight ('Samudera Pasai', for example), it is a perfect storm. I love the symphonic muscle which propels even the delicate songs to skyward heights, and gives turbulence to the already powerful ones. There are many moments of grandiose pomp, and the breathtaking aura that is created almost escapes description. 'Duology' (a co-written piece) has a partly Crimson flavor,but solid in the rock n' roll world, and develops into the more dueling guitars composition on the album, minus any orchestra.

I'd love to own a DVD of the live show, but the studio disc will suffice and easily has become a favorite of the year for me. I am familiar with most all of the output by both these artists, and in fact own those. I know the skill level of each, and expected nothing short of greatness from 'Janapati'. This is one of the finest mixes of orchestra and classical/jazz/rock I have ever heard, and I began loving those different fusions of rock and classical since the early 70's of Deep Purple's 'April', Uriah Heep's 'Salisbury', and even earlier, the song 'Love Is Blue'. Many decades later, and hundreds of albums in my collection of these type collectives, I am happy to add this one to my library. So beautiful, so worth your time, and so wonderful, it begins to feel as if I need more adjectives, but just go buy it for yourself. FULLY AND TOTALLY RECOMMENDED!

  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 12 - 20 - 2019    

 


 
AQUA FRAGILE_Moving Fragments_COVER.jpg

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BIG BEAUTIFUL NOISE
 

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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