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ROSIE ABBOTT
Magnified
(2020 - self release - UK)

https://rosieabbott.bandcamp.com/album/magnified

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZIlvda6J5o

 Self sufficient multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Rosie Abbott, shines ever so brightly on this 3rd full release 'Magnified'. Using big strokes of everyone from The Beatles, Kirsty MacColl, The Kinks, Paula Cole, and Vashti Bunyan, all with a new maturity and more complex writing style. Instrumentation includes piano (and other keyboards), drums, guitar (slide, acoustic and electric), percussion, bass, and of course finely executed lead and multi- harmony backing vocal tracks.

From Nottingham, UK, she worked on this album over a four year period, recording, mastering, engineering, and performing each and every instrument herself. Her sister, Caroline Scarborough, did the beautiful artwork inside and out. One or two of you may know her guest vocals on Benedict Trenches' music, as he casts forth an aggressive and dramatic lead vocal, she (Rosie) adds a gorgeous operatic backing vocal. But with her solo work, it is more a mix of sunny pop infused ballads with catchy hooks and sentimental curves. Among the 16 songs, you get an occasional nifty instrumental interlude of sorts (check out 'Malestroit Smile' - Track #6) clocking in at only 1:16. She also uses swing, country, blues, and soul to thicken the stew. And Rosie makes it all congruent with an ease of flow, as if it belonged together for the ages.  

Never a dull moment, this album intends to entertain, trap you in a musical maze, and certainly keep your attention. It achieves that in every aspect. It feels like snapshots of her life, maybe a lot of lives, and will strike a chord with every listener on some level or more. Need an uplifting experience? Give 'Magnified' a close and attentive listen. Relax, kick back, enjoy the hour with open ears and heart. It's her gift to everyone. Catchy lyrics, very strong song writing, and excellent performance of it all, make this an easy pick to brag about to the general public, not just particular people. It reminds me of concept albums from the 1970's, however this is no backwards art. It is a forward looking masterpiece by Ms Rosie Abbott, and filled with a rainbow of hues, shades of classic nostalgia, yet fresh like a newly bloomed field of wild flowers.  RECOMMENDED.  

©Reviewed by Lee Henderson  2 - 20 - 2021
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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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