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OCTARINE SKY
Close To Nearby
(2021 - Uberwald Records -USA)


https://recordwonderland.com/UPC/762183633627

From the first seconds, any fan of Potter's Daughter (Dyanne Potter Voegtlin and Jan Christiana) will understand this is far from the previous sound. Add more top musicians and the result is prime. In fact, it is amazing in the framework of a classical jazz fusion workout with much more. There is magic in the air here folks. The tracks follow one another as if they were born in the same womb, twin-like, only in formation (the compositions are not all by one person) , yet having sharp twists and emphasis on both chorus and bridge, also having that nice gush of power in the passages lifted by Holdsworthian inspired leads. Dyanne's piano work (often like teardrops) takes each piece into the next space, and her beautiful mesh of Sally Oldfield/Annie Haslam/Lainey Schooltree vocals ride over he entire ocean of discovery.  On  track  '5 ' (actually called '5') is a display for Voegtlin's multi vocal skills that kick things into yet another gear.

 'Close To Nearby' took around nine months to make and includes some huge power such as Mr. Simon Phillips on drums, Guthrie Gowan (of The Aristocrats) making lead guitar statements on tracks 3,5,6 & 7/ and Amit Chatterjee on guitar (track 8). All these with the foundation of Dyanne Potter Voegtlin – Vocals, Piano, Keyboards/ Jan Christiana – Bass, Bass Synths, Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals/ and Christian Voegtlin – Narration (track 4).  You might guess the music has superior energy and far more capacity than anything that has come before on a Potter's Daughter release. Of course this is due to both more song writers on the album and obviously the collection of artists that make the music happen. 'Close To Nearby' is a particularly great release, climbing up the ladder higher than the ink blue sky, past the fluffy white clouds, and somewhere into the winking stars. There are many moments of hot fusion (some similar to Simon Phillips own Protocol band), tasty movements, and all most accomplished. The sound swings from the glorious symphonic powerhouse of The Enid at it's best, sometimes reminding of perfectly placed RIO chamber rock complex greatness, with no struggle in moving back to the gentle breeze of ballad based ensemble. Hardly a stone upturned, giving the listener a more than full cup (overflowing in fact).

By the time we are back on planet earth, the song "Hold" (track #8 - the last composition) is so beautifully laid at your feet, it simply gives one the sense of being beamed down to a velvet throne.  Easily better than any of the more categorized or caution based groups I have heard in 2021. Production is superb, engineering is perfect, and all arrangements are crisp and elegant. A fine example of a ballad morphed into a burning fusion treat is "Night Sky/Into the Dream" where Phillips burns it up on drum kit. Both smooth and vicious.


There will be upcoming limited edition vinyls and accompanying Art Book which features art by Armand Cabrera (who created the album cover) coming soon. It is said to be set up at Bandcamp in the near future. And as a bonus, there are two special artists who may be including a couple of their own prints to the book. A massive amount of talent was brought in to an already highly skilled set of musicians on this project. A giant bow to all the composers, plus all involved on this masterpiece. Multiple listens are in order, but I am certain this will be automatic for all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and added to my TOP CHOICES of 2021 list.

   ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 2 - 28 - 2022


 
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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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