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RANDOM FAKTOR
Faktor "A"
(2020 - self release - USA)

https://billsmith.bandcamp.com/album/faktor-a

Self described as "avant-garde improvisational music group", Random Faktor have made a hybrid of ambient, world, exotic, musique concrete, progressive rock, and jazz fusion album that weaves its magic throughout. This duo went into Glenn Fin's home studio 'The Audio Farm', in Winston Salem, North Carolina, got behind a mountain of instruments and made a shifting, well laid out and interesting collection of pieces, all live and improvised. No overdubs. The band also state this is "Music For The Soundtrack Of Your Mind." Recorded during October 2016 and August 2017, copyrighted in 2018, and released in early 2020.

Bill Smith plays fame drum, gong drum, gongs, Chinese cymbals, Indian bells, toy bells, elephant bells, RAV tongue drum, log drum, springs, Hadphoon, antique wrenches, Engelhart blossom bells, temple blocks, various rattles and shakers, Burma bells, hubcap, mixing bowls, devil chasers, Korg Wavedrum, Himalayan bowls, Dan Moi jaw harp, and spring drum. It may interest some that Bill played percussion on a couple of cuts on Kit Watkins 'Field of View' (2019) album and some percussion on Kit's 2006 release 'SkyZone'. He also has a digital EP of more music with Watkins at his site.

Glenn Fin plays guitars, synthesizer, sampler, Chapman Stick, daxophone, electric cello, circuit bent devices, piezo plank with attachments, Fintronics modified FX system, looping devices and electric non-auto harp. He also did the graphics for the album.

I've talked about quite a few recordings of total improv that felt and sounded all planned and composed. This one stands somewhere in the middle of that category. Often the music is together and harmonious, and sometimes the wandering happens to make you aware of the spontaneous reality of Faktor "A".  A look at all the different equipment the two play does give a notion of the array of textures, styles, and atmospheres that might be created. I heard many influences from early German electronic artists on OHR label, late 70's eastern gems like on Kuckuck  (thinking Deuter for sure), world fusion ambient music like on Extreme label, certainly a nod to percussionist Frank Perry, what the Russian band Der Finger are doing, and a kitchen sink of others. Maybe even a little Faust thrown in.

It would be easy to imagine this group playing live in a proper setting. No cell phones allowed. No denying Random Faktor are partly meditative, but that puts them in a thinking person's camp. That is a positive salute. The avant-garde styles blended in give them more dimension, and the two members are clearly skilled on their instruments. The next step could be a partly composed album, therefore combining the song oriented with the improvisations. Just a thought. Multiple listens will expand the intake of this recording,

  ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson 2 - 24 - 2020

 
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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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