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DISEN GAGE
The Big Adventure
(2019 - Addicted/Noname -  Russia)

https://disengage.bandcamp.com/album/the-big-adventure

A very tricky band with what starts off as a very sing along (although the album is all instrumental) style set of bars, soon becoming what I am convinced is purposely done to fool the listener. Specifically being misled (in a most pleasing way) from being aware of the utterly knockout twists and turns, that are thrown in, to thrill all of the RIO, experimental and progressive rock lovers. So it is important that no one only spot checks this recording. Make sure you do NOT judge the sound on the first tune alone. There is so much more to come after that. In fact the sum of the project only reveals itself after an entire listen or two. The title is 100% appropriate on this, the 7th release (includes singles and EPs) from this inventive Russian outfit.

 This band has featured Anton Efimov (of Der Fingers) however, on this, the band went back to their original lineup of Konstantin Mochalov: guitar, sound engineering / Sergei Bagin: guitar, synthesizers/ Nikolai Syrtsev: bass/ and Eugeny Kudryashov: drums. Guests include Igor Bukaev:  accordion/button accordion on  track 2/ Ekaterina Morozova:  piano on tracks 3 & 8/ Vasily Tsirin:  cello on track 4  and Vadim Sorokin: mixing on all tracks, synth on tracks 6 & bass on track 8. While their history begins with a more standard progressive rock album, with nice dynamics and excellent musicianship, it is after that the band began to add the more eccentric and daring music that one can hear influences, from Samla Mammas Manna and the more outside world of the rock in opposition. The one oddball in the bunch is 'Nature' (2018), which  has 3 long tracks all using field recordings and tape manipulation of various things, along with sound effects, to visualize those subjects (Planets, Trains, Animals). But with this 2019 full release, they continue a hybrid that instantly reveals mystery, suspense, and interest as to what comes in the next moment. What may start as a jolly family friendly guitar picking ditty, could turn into a nutty roller coaster ride of several genres rolled out for your pleasure.

'The Big Adventure' has many dimensions from fun, to intellectual excursion, and that 'anything can happen' attention to detail. If you will take the time to get to the third song ('Chaos Point') containing some dizzy hyper runs, among the partly lazy rock groove, then you will be hooked into the world of Disen Gage.  Just let it play, and the magic and multiple skills of the band appears with big ambitions. The recording is jam packed with goodies. They remind me of Motorpsycho, in the way they can go from style to style, with virtuosity. If you need a rest, then 'Enough' (track #4) has a mellow dreamy beginning, slowly building with complex guitar interplay and sweet avant rock (Gentle Giant and Jean Luc Ponty combined, for a start). While these songs can have places where fairly normal styles (reggae and campfire rock/folk) serve as an illusion to the next corner, they come as a complete package to be some of the best esoteric music you will ever hear. 'Selfish Tango' (track #6) will not make you wait for the zany stuff, as it blasts off from the start. I have never heard anything exactly like 'Carnival Escape' (track #7) with its fantastic epic free for all.  

Patience will pay off generously on 'The Big Adventure'. With each composition, a curveball awaits. Enjoy the mixture of styles, close to the esteem of Pierre Vervloesem (X-Legged Sally/FES/etc), Wooden Trucks, and Zamla, somehow attached to NPR 'safe' radio music. Plenty enough to satisfy both whacky rock lovers and the more serious hybrid fans. Very much an opposites attract album, and it has indeed induced me. RECOMMENDED.
 
  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 7 - 16 - 2019
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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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