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Inna Zhelannaya
Cocoon
(2010 - 7d Media - USA)

 

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This is a very interesting CD with great backing by King Crimson member Trey Gunn on Warr guitar, Gennadiy Lavrentyev (tabla and violin), Pavel Lapygin (throat singing and jews harp), Oleg Mariakhin (saxophone), and Margarita Tagunova (casting a spell). Inna’s voice is mystical and the music here is both sacred and beautiful. It also has little touches of risk and intrigue to really make it simply great. I own many CD’s by Inna and also many with her and Sergey, plus some by Farlanders so I had welcome arms for this new one. I was just bowled over by it.

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Inna Zhelannaya started the Russian band The Farlanders which included Sergey Starostin ( awarded BBC’s “World Musician of the Year” award in 2003). She has been releasing solo work since the year 2000. “Cocoon” is her debut release to the USA. It is based on old Russian folk songs. Trey Gunn also co- produces the CD. The music is never boring, nor is it an any way a dance folk recording. It does have some cool rhythms, very well arranged, and at times, you hear Gunn’s nice Crimson like rhythm’s subtly working for the music ( track 3 “Naya Naya”).

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While this does have the haunting ancient music all over it and could be compared at times to Lisa Gerrard’s slower mystic magic, it has it’s own stamp for overall uniqueness. I could never guess what was about to happen next, and for me, that is a great factor in the thrill of listening to progressive music. If one just read the instruments used on this release, they’d be so mislead as to how many various ways and sounds they are used. It has a perfect blend of modern and traditional angles. It even sounds like Peter Gabriel at his most heartfelt ( Track 7 “Pavushka”) which is simply stunning. There is some breathtakingly beautiful music all over the shiny little disc. Much of it sent chills down my spine, and made me feel certain calm.

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I understand the title so much better now. A “Cocoon” is what you feel like you are in while listening to this exceptional music. And you should wipe out any notions of this being some accordion dance Russian folk, as it is celestial years before and after that. Think more like a heightened mix of Peter Gabriel’s “Last Temptation...” music, with Lisa Gerrard’s dreamy music, mystic eastern atmosphere and a sink full of surprises tossed here and there. Song (track 9 “Mower”) has a killer Trey Gunn lead guitar solo in it that gets close as can be to something Robert Fripp would have done. Just super! The end track takes you off again into the heavens . I just can’t recommend this CD highly enough. I stayed glued to the magic the entire 68:41 minutes. Extraordinary and not to be missed!!!!

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Reviewed by Lee Henderson on February 14th, 2011

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The Review:

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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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