top of page
LELA FRITE (cover).jpg

LELA FRITE

self titled 

(2016 – self release – France)

http://lelafrite.tumblr.com/

 

A pastoral, oftentimes exotic, and very formative solo by composer/vocalist Melanie Gerber, under the name Lela Frite. Guests include Benjamin Costantini (guitar), Thierry Reichmuth (guitar), Thomas Fogel (keyboards), Encelade (bass, guitar) Sophie Jabot (vocals on track 3) and Valentin Metz (from the French avant jazz band Camembert on drums). It will interest fans of Camembert that Melanie sings on track 4 of their newest recording ‘Negative Toes’.

The music is an alluring cross of haunting folk, ethnic, and dream like ritualistic world music. The first song ‘Goddess Awake’ is not far from the ultra-original music of Ingrid Karklins. Some compositions add a very celestial quality with spectral synthesizer. Melanie’s voice is smooth, transcendental, sometimes delicate, and other times ghostly. Imagine a less aggressive Bjork with touches of Anja Garbarek and Meredith Monk, plus a nod to Lisa Gerrard.  Track 3 (‘Plastic Bag’) uses excellent multi voices (with help of Sophie Jabot), and on the following piece (‘Offering’), she adds a wider octave range, which is absolutely entrancing. This is where you know the woman is genuinely talented, with a superlative voice that can go from young lullaby, to deep Lisa Gerrard style otherworldly places.

‘Megalotrip’ (track 5) is a 7 1/2 minute journey that will astound. As heavenly as most of the music is, there is a cool semi distorted guitar solo intro on ‘Velvet’ (track 8) giving way to pseudo harpsichord, reed organ, and more multi octave vocals, on par with some of the best ethereal goth ( VAS, Dead Can Dance, Soul Swirling Somewhere). Some vocals are in English, some in French. Enchanting, exploring, and inventive are all words that come to mind while listening to this somewhat mysterious recording. Melanie has an abundance of influences which makes 'Lela Frite' radiant as a whole and unforgettable. Not to be missed, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Reviewed by Lee Henderson  2 – 17 – 2018

AQUA FRAGILE_Moving Fragments_COVER.jpg

© 2023 by Name of Site. Proudly created with Wix.com

 
 
BIG BEAUTIFUL NOISE
 

A  magazine focused on inventive, progressive, and creative music in any genre that stands out from the rest




Payments of any amount (all donations, no matter how small, are truly cherished) can be sent by PAYPAL  to:
drumlee@proton.me

This magazine exists on kind donations and music related advertisements (although the ads are limited and in no way accepted for favors in reviews). All funds are used to pay for website, domain, and the endless hours of work that is required to keep the reviews and various information  in process. Any donation is extremely appreciated. Thank you.
PayPal ButtonPayPal Button

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


 

bottom of page