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TAUTUMEITAS
Dziesmas no Aulejas (Songs from Aulejas)
(2020 - CPL-Music - Germany)

http://www.tautumeitas.lv/home/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0hKY8ZEfJg

https://cpl-music.de/en/

A six piece Finnish female vocal outfit so in sync and perfectly balanced with lush voice harmony and elusive attraction, on this their second album as Tautumeitas, present a platter of traditional music from a small village in Latvia. Where the group showed their skills at blending and bending traditional and ethno music with their debut (self titled - 2018) and their collaboration (Auļi un Tautumeitas - Lai Masiņa Rotajas! - 2017) with bagpipes and drums, this time they go back in time to a more pure and all a cappella release representing a multi generation of women singers specifically from Aulejas, where originally five women carried on this particular style of singing. Tautumeitas do it with six women which brings out the richness even more beautifully. With an aura that makes the skin crawl and causes tingles in your spine, the heart becomes involved as you listen.

Both unison and varied call and response are done in exquisite fashion. This short (less than 30 mins) is stunning. There is a reason those pristine vocal arrangements have penetrated the soul for centuries. There is no fat, no waste, nothing fake or even treated. This is what the world needs. Pure and soulful music without pollution. It cannot go unnoticed that the six singers are not only gorgeous physically, but their angelic voices blend like nectar from the heavens and refuse to be denied a collective presence.
 
We go through life with some happiness (if lucky) and loads of anxiety (if you are human) and I claim this album to be what you need. Like one of my all time favorite Twilight Zone episodes (episode 12, 1959) 'What You Need', it reduces this story down to the positive side, and with enigmatic statue and buoyant results. Note that there is very different cover art for the LP verses the CD for those collectors. The CD comes in a very nice digi-pak gatefold with booklet, and the artwork from LP cover is printed on the disc itself, as well as under the clear plastic tray of the package. The cover is of one of the original five piece outfits of the Aulejas circle. The album is pressed on a snow white vinyl and is very striking. Whichever version you chose, a wonderful listen and one to cherish. RECOMMENDED.

 ©Reviewed by Lee Henderson  6 - 10 - 2020
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A  magazine focused on inventive, progressive, and creative music in any genre that stands out from the rest
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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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