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MAIRI McGILLIVRAY
In My Mind
(2021 - self released - UK)

BUY HERE
https://mairimcgillivray.bandcamp.com/album/in-my-mind

Mairi McGillivray - Live at TIDES festival
https://myplayer.uk/content/21/1656-mairi-mcgillivray-live-at-tides-festival

Absolutely beautiful 4 track EP debut by Scottish singer/composer who is rooted in the Gaelic style. A voice to melt away the most iced over heart, one that flows with a magic essence only attributed to angels. As pure as ancient snow, before humans made a mess of the earth. These four tunes (one penned by Mairi) mark a substantial entrance for the whole world to finally listen, own and enjoy this artist in her splendor.

Mairi has realize concerts all across the UK, and only held up by the COVID-19 (as all musicians were in these painful times). This young woman is quite accomplished (one listen tells the story of her skills) having  graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2020 with a First Class Honors in Traditional Music. She also won a prestigious Danny Kyle Award in January 2021. On this wonderful release she was joined by some of Scotland's best young musicians, Seán Gray (guitar), Isla Callister (fiddle), Charlie Stewart (double bass), Graham Rorie (mandolin) and Paul McKenna (backing vocals). The music here is a small collection of traditional Gaelic and Scots compositions with 'Sea Of Men' being the original, which is a about a disaster occurring in 1918, in the region of Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland. The story is about war times when fleets of American (with a few British) soldiers were coming from Liverpool met a terrible storm causing some of the ships to sink. Despite an attempt from a ship from Belfast to come rescue them, when it arrived 470 men who tried to jump from there ship to the rescue boat, were filled with panic and fell short, plummeting to their watery grave. Those who drowned washed up on the shore of Islay, where the people of the island buried them. Only 21 men were saved.

The self penned tune is track 4, so the saddest was saved for last. The first song 'Tha Fadachd orm Fhìn' is a gorgeous Gaelic piece, both sparkling and softly gracing the EP for an instant attention-getter. Fiddle is added with acoustic guitar, giving a roving undertone. 'Kelvin's Purling Stream' comes next with a cheerful but gentle pull on the ears. It is a traditional song about a man from Ireland moving to Glasgow and having to leave his love behind. One more pleasing Gaelic song called 'Tàladh na Beinne Guirme' soothes, supported by Mairi's charming voice. She performs all four cuts with an elegant balance of projection and nuance. It would all too effortless to listen to her all day and night. Hearing 'In My Mind' a number of times already, I cannot wait for a full length followup. Each musician on the release is picture perfect. Will we be so lucky? What say you Mairi?  MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  

 ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 4 - 15 - 2021
 


 
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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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