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ELECTRIC BIRD NOISE
Hearn-Roberts-Strong-Watts
(2019 - Silber Records - USA)

https://silbermedia.bandcamp.com/album/hearn-roberts-strong-watts

[the physical CD - very ltd ed, can be purchased at]  http://www.squidco.com

This is quite a different style of music and fantastic dive into the wonderful world of manipulated/super creative/avant 'out rock', by Electric Bird Noise (birth name: Brian Lea McKenzie). The newly realized collaboration with these additional musicians springs forth not only a new energy, but something so strong and brimming over with life, that it rates a listing on my TOP CHOICES of 2019 list.  

Adding Bradley Wayne Roberts (bass), Jason Hearn (drums), Steve Strong (drums) and Alan Watts (voice on track #7), Electric Bird Noise takes his guitar into a place that is at once amazing, whirling, and spaced out. His vast history with ambient, sound colors, drone, experimental, and noise, is prime experience for this new devilishly intricate math rock hybrid that parades around progressive rock and RIO pathways, yet makes a new road of its own. I asked Brian about the other musicians and how this project came about. He was born and raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which is the most famous and fun beach to go to in SC. Band mates Jason and Bradley are also Myrtle Beach natives and are veterans of the local music scene. Steve strong is from Devon, UK.  Brian runs a recording studio there in Myrtle Beach and puts on shows occasionally. It was one of these shows he did, where Steve Strong came to sit in, and the next day they went to the studio and recorded a bunch of material together, creating what would be 4 of the 8 titles on this new album. He has done countless jams and in fact, when I asked how he got the moniker Electric Bird Noise, he said "once a month free formed improvisational collaborative workshops... I'd show up with a bunch of guitar pedals and do my thing. After one of the jams a person came up and stated that my playing reminder him of birds or bird noises...it stuck."
  
Although I have heard quite a few superior recordings that were improvised, but soundly fully composed which is the ultimate talent and result), this one ranks up there with one of them. Brian told me all pieces  were  improvised live to recording gear. Noted with oddly named compositions, with just the full name of the member who played on the track (along with Electric Bird Noise), and you even see a part I, II, amd III on Steve Strong, then Hearn-Roberts, with track 7 being 'Hearn-Roberts-Watts, and then the witty final cut 'Gnosts-Evets' (being Steve Strong's name spelled backwards). The music has several flavors going on, sometimes sounding like distorted carnival themes, with what could be imagined as Adrian Belew doing some of his exploratory guitar effects, or better yet, the earlier and more outstanding solo guitar ventures by Fred Frith ('Solo Guitar' 1974). The pieces are not too far from Frith's brilliant Massacre, when the drums and bass are added, with heapings of guitar soaked reverb and other effects. A hint of surf even shows up. It is certainly a wild ride and deeply progressive, with shades of X-Legged Sally, Samla Mammas Manna, and Present in there. The one track that has spoke word, features Alan Watts talking about some deep thinker topics like birth, being a stranger in the world, karma, etc. It strikes a nice pause from the more all instrumental forceful exercises, which all make for an exhilarating listen. One can only hope that the feedback from this first 'Hearn-Roberts-Strong-Watts' recording will usher in a second one. The band format with this delicious experimental rock is one to cherish and look forward to more. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

   ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 7 - 27 - 2019
 
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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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