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Flat Earth Society

13

(2013 - Igloo Records - Belgium)


http://www.fes.be/indexEN.html

Not only is this NOT your father’s big band, but this is for avant big band and beyond fans.  In fact, you can listen to it, allow it to cuddle you, nudge you, kick you, engulf your mind, and sweep your feet from you like a tsunami wave.

Thirteen compositions (all original except two – “Intersections” by Tom Dissevelt and “Stoptime Rag” by Scott Joplin) and FES’s 13th album, this both swings and darts about in all directions, like a box of accidentally ignited sky rockets.  One listen won’t save you but might raise you from your hopeless grimace as to our crumbling world.  If anything is worth listening to, THIS IS.!!!

“13” is a hair-raising, odd-shaped, dada hybrid jazz, theatrical, jolting, fantastic big band platter for your perusal.  Fifteen members giving the world a moxy spin of music you can’t get anywhere else.  Unreal performance by Bart Maris (trumpet), Peter Vandenberghe (piano, keyboards), Teun Verbruggen (drums and percussion), Peter Vermeersch (bass, clarinet and vocals), Pierre Vervloesem (guitar), and the rest of band. Stand out performances galore!

It is a push and pull of music, dragging you deep into their secret world, then birthing you back up into orbit.  Vaudeville inspired moments, high energy, RIO style, near train wrecks, circus-like excursions, avalanche  big band charts, lonesome minutes of silent theatre comedy, sparks of anybody’s guess and pioneering arrangements on the edge of insanity.  All so wonderfully odd!!! Sometimes film noir soundtrack, (track 8) “Intersections”, a Twilight Zone of many episodes!!  For fans of FES, X-Legged Sally, ragtime, RIO, and crazy great big band in general. Nutty good!!  Insanely, highly recommended!!!

Reviewed by Lee Henderson July 1, 2014

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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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