Acqua Fragile / Live in Emilia (1975)

Italy

Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog

After 2 awesome albums it's basically a good concert record, very well played but it wasn't worth putting out. I think they're just a good studio band. Because this concert recording doesn't feel anything in terms of progressive rock.

Members

Bernardo Lanzetti (vocals, guitar), Gino Campanini (guitar, vocals), Maurizio Mori (keyboards, vocals), Franz Dondi (bass), Piero Canavera (drums, acoustic guitar, vocals), Joe Vescovi (keyboards)

Track Listing

01. Take 9 4:56

02.  Cosmic Mind Affair 8:26

03. Bar Gazing 7:10

04. Professor 7:23

05. Going Out 2:59

06. Science Fiction Suite 5:27

07. Mean Woman Blues 5:07

08. Morning Come 8:11

09. Prelude in C Major 1:25

10. The End 3:57

YANDEX

Acqua Fragile / Mass-Media Stars (1974)

Italy

Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog

"Mass Media Stars", the band's second LP, should help the prog rockers to their international breakthrough. Unfortunately nothing came of it. This Italian sound sounds too special for many ears, the compositions appear too jazzy for the mainstream rocker. The music isn't bad though. "Cosmic Mind Affair" is a fantastic opener that sets the listener in the mood for what's to come. Breezy pad sounds harmonize with dominant solo synth sounds and lots of guitars.

"Bar Gazing" is a ballad with acoustic guitar and vocals that are performed somewhat shakily, but it also gets pretty spacy after about 1:50 minutes. Synths, organ, guitars, the whole program. In terms of tempo, everything stays moderate and then eventually ends up back with the acoustic guitar. "Mass Media Stars" sounds like Italian-style fusion rock due to the strong bass, "Opening Act" clearly shows the band's weaknesses. It's all too playful. A cappella opening, sloppy singing, then the typical guitar strumming and many breathy Doo Doo Doooos.

The Who could have done the strong guitar intro of "Professor" better, but I like it here too. Arguably the best song on the album. The concluding "Coffee Song" is then again an average "guitar number with vocals" that you don't want to hear anymore after almost thirty minutes of Italian Prog Rock art. All in all, not a bad album.

Members

Bernardo Lanzetti (vocals, guitar), Gino Campanini (guitar, vocals), Maurizio Mori (keyboards, vocals), Franz Dondi (bass), Piero Canavera (drums, acoustic guitar, vocals), Joe Vescovi (keyboards)

Track Listing

01 - Cosmic Mind Affair 7:19

02 - Bar Gazing 5:06

03 - Mass-Media Stars 6:53

04 - Opening Act 5:40

05 - Professor 6:49

06 - Coffee Song 5:56

YANDEX

Acqua Fragile / Acqua Fragile (1973)

 

Italy

Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog

Perfect example of a group made up of skilled individuals (singer excluded) who are unable to put their skills to good use.

This album strongly influenced by the progressive from across the Channel is divided into a relatively listenable more "Italian" side A (in instrumentation and composition), and a B side full of Genesis-like garbage and crowned by the "Three Hands Man" ending, a kind of rhapsodic collage without rhyme or reason.

One of the most execrable creations of macaronic prog-rock.

Acqua Fragile will only have existed for two albums but will have left their mark in the world of Italian prog. Far from being a major band like PFM or Banco, Acqua Fragile having a singer with texts in English (with a voice very Peter Gabriel period Foxtrot) composed here an album where we find Gentle Giant and Genesis (Morning comes) as influence while knowing that they have their identity. A track like 'Three Hands Man' shows the band at their musical peak. There are also some nice folk sounds throughout the album which yes, make you think a bit of CSNY at times and drift into plagiarism on the other hand. A rather rare album these days but definitely worth hearing.

Members

Bernardo Lanzetti (vocals, guitar), Gino Campanini (guitar, vocals), Maurizio Mori (keyboards, vocals), Franz Dondi (bass), Piero Canavera (drums, acoustic guitar, vocals), Joe Vescovi (keyboards)

Track Listing

01 - Morning Comes 7:25

02 - Comic Strips 3:59

03 - Science Fiction Suite 5:57

04 - Song From a Picture 4:11

05 - Education Story 4:16

06 - Going Out 2:59

07 - Three Hands Man 8:06

YANDEX