Aqua Fragile / Moving Fragments – CD review (from Germany)

Sometimes I get CDs sent to me that I don't immediately understand. I then have to delve very deeply into the matter in order to understand the 'music'. This is particularly true of Aqua Fragile 's current album.

While studying the booklet, I noticed names that I have come across many times, especially when it comes to Italian progressive/art rock. First and foremost the singer Bernando Lanzetti and guitarist Claudio Tuma, then singer Rossella Volta and guest musician David Jackson (King Crimson).

Now to the music and it starts off very pleasantly. The keyboards move in spherical realms and then Bernardo 's extraordinary voice comes into play, playing with the feelings with his intense singing. His deeper soprano with that higher second voice is similar to Chris Farlowe's singing. The song builds up slowly and smoothly, accompanied by a light marching rhythm and changing instrumentation that responds to the situation and mood while maintaining the basic rhythm. A slightly distorted guitar ends the piece in a slightly rocking manner.

What were they thinking with this title? "White Horse On Dope". The lyrics provide a little insight: a psychedelic dream of a girl who is held captive in the deep forest and cannot free herself for the time being. »Ride that white horse on dope | You're the glorious ghost girl | But certainly | Can't make it back | Won't make it back | Back home ". «Everything is accompanied by a subtle prog and rock sound and with Lanzetti in the role of narrator, you quickly immerse yourself in this fictional fairy tale.

“Malo Bravo” gets strangely theatrical. Unfortunately, since it's sung in Italian, I can't follow the story behind it. Musically it goes into dark and melancholy folklore. The melody of the ship's piano drags on and the deep voice matches it with a little shimmer of the synthesizer sequences.

In the ballad "La intellienza artificiale" you can hear Rossella Volta 's beautiful, clear voice with light vibrato for the first time.

"Aqua Fragile" were founded in Parma and had their debut in 1973, with Lanzetti and Canavera acting as founding members as they do now on "Moving Fragments". In these many years only three official releases have been recorded, the last in 2017 called "A New Chant".

Things get quicker and more intricate with “Black Drone” and that’s no wonder since it sounds like King Crimson. David Jackson appears as a guest musician on saxophone and flute! The number turns out to be a pure listening pleasure, it's progressive rock at a high level and Claudio Tuma also shines really well on the guitar. The breaks are sharp and the choir in the background adds the necessary bombast.

At the end there are two different faces of the band Aqua Fragile. As an Italian rocker, "Il Suono Della Voc" rolls along and shows the other side of Rossella Volta, which presents itself here as a cool, powerful rock tube. Very nice. The finale is "Limerence Etheraeal", a small progressive opera that runs through various 'photographic' scenes. A difficult task if you then follow the story behind it. Unfortunately, musically it's a little boring.

All in all, a difficult album to really listen to and engage with. And yet, after listening to it, you get the impression that something is missing. It's not bad music or bad compositions, the quality is also high; It's more like "Moving Fragments", nothing consistent - as can be seen on the interesting cover that invites you to discover it. Something biblical, in the middle a magnificent carousel, a futuristic fortune teller and a modern black drone. The music is just as different.

Lineup Aqua Fragments:

Bernardo Lanzetti (lead vocals, guitar, Glovox)

Stefano Pantaleoni (keyboards)

Claudio Tuma (guitars)

Rossella Volta (vocals)

Franz Dondi (bass)

Piero Canavera (drums & percussion, vocals)

 

With:

Stef Burns (guitar - #2)

Brian Belloni (guitar - #4)

Davide Piombino (7-string guitar - #5)

David Jackson (saxophone & flute - #6)

Gigi Cavalli Cocchi drums - #1,6)

Sergio Ponti (drums – #4.9)

 

Tracklisting "Moving Fragments":

Her Shadlow's Torture (5:52)

White Horse on Dope (4:08)

Moving Fragments (3:03)

Malo Bravo (4:50)

IA – Intelligenta Artificiale (4:07)

Black Drone (3:52)

DD Danz (4:16)

Il Suono della Voce (5:05)

Limerence Ethereal (5:58)

Total playing time: 41:11, year of release: 2024

ORIGINAL ARTICLE