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MANNA/MIRAGE
Rest of the World
(2018 - New House Music - USA)
[Ltd Ed 300 copies]


Just one listen to the first cut 'Catawampus', and you have assurance that you will love the entire album of the 2nd release, by Dave Newhouse led Manna/Mirage. With the nostalgic tone, mix and complexities, mostly cloaked in Canterbury, the result is love in an instance. Also, that tune as well as 'Zed He Said' (track 2, which is dedicated to Robert Wyatt), and 'That Awful Sky' (track 8) were intended to be Muffins songs, but before they got recorded, that band broke up (sadly). It is worth noting that Michele King does a wonderful vocal piece on 'Zed He Said', along with Jerry King on acoustic guitars, lead and bass. The music here has a soothing, slightly psychedelic 60's folk sound, with a cool lushness, mellow in a most early Canterbury way. Carla Diratz performs narration and writes the lyrics on 'Alchemist in the Parlor' (track 3), with Greg Segal on bells, tiny cymbals, and klacker, plus Forest Fang on violin. Dave Newhouse adds doumbek, bass drum, along with his woodwinds and keyboards. This has an old carnival/gypsy vibe, which brings in a necessary mystery.


There are some further guest appearances of importance, with Sean Rickman (drums, who plays on 1/2/4/5 & 7), Mark Stanley (guitar on 1 & 4), Derek Higgins (bass on 5) Guy Segers (bass on 7), Bret Hart (guitars, ebow on 8), Billy Swan (double bass, and electric bass on 8), and William Jungwirth (drums on 8). Newhouse adds a multitude of instrumentation (see above for more) such as saxophones and accordion.  The compositions cover a pleasurable amount of ground, including what could be described as semi exotic landscapes wandering into Soft Machine territory, tasteful flowery jazz, layered solo on soprano/alto/tenor and baritone sax (a beauty by Newhouse, which takes the listener away from jazz for a spell), and lastly a very spacious piece ('That Awful Sky') that sounds like a jazz improvisation planted in a post rock style. A hint of things to come?


The mixture of flavors is once again, superb on a project under Dave Newhouse's hands. The man/musician has not come close to running out of ideas, that is for certain. What that means for fans, is more music to come, and surely something to look forward to. Thanks to all the fine artists that come together on 'Rest of the World', in both creativity and execution, the audience is rewarded with the results.


©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 1 - 6 - 2019

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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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