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 RON CAINES / MARTIN ARCHER: AXIS
Practical Dreamers
(Discus Music - 2024 - UK)

https://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/practical-dreamers-178cd-2024


 Be prepared to be instantly be drawn into a world of magnificent minds from musicians who create something beyond magic in the music world. It is another stunning album by AXIS (Ron Caines & Martin Archer , plus various members added). being their fifth, and in my view, their most cerebral  yet. There is the fact of the wisdom and experience of the members involved here, and then far past that, is the unusually high academy of creative output these artists possess. A musical Hyperion that casts aside typical definition.

We often discover only the most superior concepts or formations occur in some obscure space, far from human reality, or just out of touch for the seekers who spend their lives searching for it. In this case, 'Practical Dreamers' is a treasure that all such journey goers will find golden and worth each second of their lives. The varied compositions go inside you and vibrate a special resonance. Ron Caines decided to go about this recording just a bit different from the previous AXIS projects in the layout.  I will not labor on the details simply due to the result that makes the word amazing take on a new glow. His decision was to allow Martin and the others, to compose the music first, in a possible embryonic stage (or was it), then for him to come in a lay his spell on top of it. Simple yet such a chance to discover, and this became the formula that gave the audience the special aural experience of a lifetime. Knowing the musicians involved has a history and incredible backlog in itself, but still, Ron took a chance in his liberal approach. No worries!

It would been a sin not to list the creators of this disc. The names alone bring a large ear perking. Ron Caines – alto and soprano saxophones/ Martin Archer – bass and Bb clarinets, flute, tuned percussion, electronics, whistles, harmonica/ Hervé Perez – laptop, sound processing/ Laura Cole – piano/ Anton Hunter – electric guitar, electronics/ Michael Bardon – cello/ Gus Garside – double bass/ and Ron Caines – alto and soprano saxophones/ & Johnny Hunter – drums.  The authentic interaction from each atom to the others, defines causation and effect in such a way that rarely if ever comes up from the spirits from humans. What a collection of first rate wit, energy, upfront give, freedom from forced dictatorship, formed in raw arena of no censorship, this is new ideas placed on a work bench in a lab of critical minds who got lost in the sand storm of corrective world order. Yet, if anything reveals possible opposing views, thus this became a perfect Dadaism of all things happen from sparks busting against the walls of the enclosure of the pit. Here be the ghost of all the rebels. Pieces 'Practical Dreamers Part 1 thru 7' are inclusive and exclusive compositions that skate along shallow ice, hang on brittle limbs, and wear the exploration badge of courage, moment after moment. What would any educated music lover expect, but the outlay of these artists pulled together by destiny and sweet fate.

Ron lays down latitudes, platforms, and raw energy. This gives not just pause, but second sights to all, as such improvised hind-sights give way to anticipation fragments, with faith n the players, all out insane conception, never becoming congested, always fluid, full of mud-prints to other places, explorations to places yet found from imaginations. The golden ears of each player places this exact radiance from the alpha and omega of this endeavor. No scattering of ideas, except the most firework display of the best improv musicians on this planet. There is no equal, although reference points could be suggested from a deluge thru the library of open range British jazz. A formula of "electroacoustic structures composed by Martin Archer, with real time laptop responses created and performed by Hervé Perez – which together provide a live improvising environment for the other instrumentalists, who all responded in real time to what they heard", becomes a web of incredible design. Imagination on a map to anywhere, makes the listener the lucky one, and damn well  fortunate beyond all time and space limitations. Caines did come in the end, took a deep breath, gave blessings to the entire mountain of beauty, and both allowed already existing God-like genius to bloom, but give orgasm to the heap so ready to burst to the blue sky. How each artist lays on top of each other, paints the canvas so beautifully, and creates a masterpiece such as this, is rare indeed. But the players are ultimately special, and chosen to make this near impossible beauty from strands of moments thrust forth in sparse space and time.

"Practical Dreamers" is a big beautiful balloon of intricate floating  brilliance, complex collusion, and golden rule performance between the artists included in this release. Investigative jazz swirls the bright lights of some alien star-ship that has just shown up at your doorsteps, so I suggest you use your ears to take in the unique encounter performed by this ensemble of great thinkers. Spellbinding formations. Absolute twilight music. Pieces apart and brought together into a summation of perfection.

©Reviewed by Lee Henderson  8 - 10 - 2024


 

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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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