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LOST CROWNS_Every-Night-Something-Happen
LOST CROWNS
Every Night Something Happens
(2019 - Bad Elephant - UK)

https://lostcrowns.bandcamp.com/

Up above the clouds was this band, and their music, which was filled with illustrious and magical aural ingredients. This collection of musicians came from other prestigious groups that also created musical summits. When these gathering of musical artists completed their very first album, it was a glorious thing that the world had never heard the likes of before.

I have spoken before about a secret ceremony all the members of the Cardiac disciples (and related offshoots) must bestow upon each human that enters the ring of making this prodigious level of music. In the case of Lost Crowns. the magical mystery is present in gobs. Birds of a feather flock together can also be applied. The music is so far beyond fantastic, a new word needs inventing. Stupendous, mind-blowing, earthshaking...all these come attached. From the first few seconds of the psychedelic, eastern almost Scottish bagpipe lead (thanks to James Larcombe, brother of Richard for the hurdy gurdy), right into a very Gong/tunnel vision otherworldly Canterbury procession, the audience is mesmerized. Including some truly beautiful early Gentle Giant style vocal and instrumental odd rhythm structures, the nearly overwhelming contents of each composition simple astounds.
 
Richard Larcombe (lead vocal, guitar, handbells) from Stars In Battledress/North Sea Radio Orchestra/Admirals Hard/William D. Drake and a host of other guest appearance and projects, who worked over a four year period to write these tunes, called upon Nicola Baigent (clarinet, bass clarinet, recorder) of North Sea Radio Orchestra/William D. Drake; Charlie Cawood (bass guitar) of Knifeworld/Lost Crowns/Mediaeval Baebes/My Tricksy Spirit/Spiritwo/Tonochrome and you can loose count of all the guest spots and a solo, with another almost out; Sharron Fortnam (vocals) of North Sea Radio Orchestra/The Shrubbies/Arch Garrison/William D. Drake/Not a Good Sign; Keepsie (drums, handbells) of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ only the band knows who he is, as it remains a mystery on purpose; Rhodri Marsden (piano, harmonium, electric piano, bassoon, saw, harpsichord, vocals) of Kev Hopper/Prescott/The Free French/Scritti Politti/and many guest spots, as well as being a London journalist/musician; Josh Perl (synthesizer, vocals, handbells) of Knifeworld, and appearing on Charlie Cawood's 'The Divine Abstract'; Mark Cawthra (vocals on 'Housemaid's Knees' and 'Let Loving Her Be Everything') of Cardiac Arrest [the first version of Cardiacs formed in 1977] /Cardiacs/Redbus Noface; James Larcombe (hurdy gurdy on 'Housemaid's Knees' and 'The Star Of My Heart') of Stars In Battledress/Knifeworld/North Sea Radio Orchestra/William F. Drake/Admirals Hard and plenty of guest spots among various albums; and finally Joanne Spratley (vocals on 'Sound As Color') of Mikrokosmos/Spratleys Japs, and guest spots on North Sea Radio Orchestra/William D. Drake/Vennart/ZOFFF among others. All songs written, arranged and produced by Richard Larcombe and mixed by Rhodri Marsden.

Richard chose these good people to breathe new life into his works. They not only made the 8 songs come alive, but injected a colossal lifeblood that created a new kind of creature. Turn the volume up to catch every nuance and the full effect. Although little chance of anyone describing Lost Crowns in a simple way, but it first struck me as a long lost Canterbury band's spectacular debut, that blows the ceiling off the music world. The bar has been raised again. As Richard said, the spirit of Tim Smith is being carried on here, and no question 'Every Night Something Happens' could have been produced by Smith.

With the infusion of a spacey atmosphere (similar to the way Steve Hillage made happen on his 'Fish Rising' album), an abundance of polyrhythms, and as many as four members on vocals at a time, plus arrangement of instrumentation in the utopian realms, the fragments of early music, stealth doses of folk and hard to categorize stylings, with overall psychedelic ghosts, this music will elate William D. Drake and late period Cardiac fans, plus cast new nets for the people who love madness mixed with mathrock, and methodical razzmatazz. Without doubt, a TOP CHOICE for 2019 for my list. An astronomical release that comes with a MAMMOTH RECOMMENDATION!  

  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson  3 - 6 - 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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