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OTEME

L’agguato L’abbandono Il Mutamento

(2015 – Ma Ra Cash – ITALY)

http://oteme.com/en/lagguato-labbandono-il-mutamento/

A second utterly monumental release by Oteme (Osservatorio delle Terre Emerse, which translates in English to ‘Observatory of Emerged Land’) which is led and composed by multi instrumentalist, conductor, inventor of instruments, and arranger Stefano Giannotti. While his debut Oteme recording ‘Il Giardino Disincantato’ was excellent, however more sparse, nothing about it could have prepared me for his next stupendous release ‘L’agguato L’abbandono Il Mutamento’ (The Ambush, The Abandonment, The Change).

The music easily rolls from RIO chamber to Robert Wyatt-like compositions, some all instrumental, others with vocals of perfection. This sweet and unique recipe of experimental and Canterbury is somewhere located in the clouds of heaven. There is zero abrasion or noise, just the opposite, with the charisma and shinning brilliance of a calm chemist putting together concoctions with no rules or expectations. However, the outcome is the finest avant pop of the utopian kind, that the lucky explorer can buy.

Pieces were written between 1992 and 2015, and performed by a large ensemble (larger than on Giannotti’s debut) including Valeria Marzocchi – Piccolo, Flute/ Linda Matteucci – Flute/ Nicola Bimbi – Oboe, English Horn/ Giorgio Berrugi – Clarinet/ Lorenzo Del Pecchia – Bass Clarinet/ Marco Donatelli – Bassoon/ Maicol Pucci – Trumpet, Flugelhorn/ Marco Fagioli – Bass Tuba/ Valentina Cinquini – Harp/ Emanuela Lari – Voice, Keyboards/ Pierluigi Papeschi – Electric Guitar/ Milko Ambrogini – Bass Guitar/ Ricardo Ienna – Drums & Percusssion/and the master himself, Stefano Giannotti – Voice, Piano, Classical & Electric Guitars, Banjo, Indian Organ, Jew’s Harp, Percussion.

 

The compositions vary from all instrumental Henry Cow world chamber music, at it’s more pastoral and melodic nature, to very inventive percussion work, underneath and alongside sweet Wyatt-like pop songs, and some in-between or outside that. Fantastic is what it all is! Mostly short under four minutes, a few five and six minute pieces, except for one nearly twenty six minute extravaganza titled ‘Tracce nel nulla’ (Traces in Thin Air), which might very well change your life. Beginning with a mellow oddfellow ballad, then building with chamber orchestra, the first slightly gritty space cadet lead guitar (Hillage-like) then halfway through, jumps to a William D. Drake-like (Cardiacs keyboardist) solo world with that partly early music Shulman brothers (Gentle Giant) magic, with otherworldly alien handshakes. Stunning in every direction possible. Understand this is classic and will go down as one of the inventive masterpieces of 2015. As the godhead excursion passes, Stephano jumps the wall again and juxtaposes a complex percussion pattern with his pop world, to continue the wide eyes, goofy grin, and spellbound moments the listener has succumbed to. How can this be so grand?

To end this extraordinary album, we have a somewhat hyper bubbly avant chamber piece under two minutes. And with this, you pick up your lower lip, try to recoup, and assimilate what you have just heard. Then you cannot wait to go brag about and praise the merits of OTEME "L’agguato L’abbandono Il Mutamento". INSANELY RECOMMENDED.

Reviewed by Lee Henderson 7 – 9 – 2016

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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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