Customer Reviews

Acqua Fragile

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Acqua Fragile had only released two albums in its life time, this one, their self-entitled 1973 debut and Mass-Media Stars from 1974, which are both worthy of your attention (I used to think Mass-Media Stars was awful, but I revisited that album and my opinion changed, it's great, although the vocals are even harsher and more heavily accented than their debut, that's why it was difficult for me to appreciate their second album long ago). If you enjoy the best parts of Genesis and Family, you're sure to enjoy this album. Vocalist Bernardo Lanzetti sounds like a cross between Roger Chapman and Peter Gabriel. Lanzetti sings in English, but it's real obvious that he had real problems with the language as so much he sings is quite unintelligible (although I realize that Lanzetti had spent his youth in Texas, so he should know the English language better, and in fact his English was quite good when being interviewed on an L.A.-based public access program specializing in prog, called the Boffomundo Show, which existed in 1979-80), but there's no deny he's got quite a powerful voice. PFM had produced the album but it doesn't sound all that much like PFM, at least the albums I've heard (If any PFM comparisons surface, it would more likely be Chocolate Kings-era). I noticed none of the band were trying to impress each other, so you don't get elaborate guitar and keyboard solos (keyboardist Maurizio Mori used some rather low-key Hammond organ, Eminent and piano). I believed the band was more interested in ensemble playing than trying to "outsolo" each other. "Science Fiction Suite" is an acoustic piece with great vocal harmonies, almost CSNY-like. "Three Hands Man" seems to be a song about a freakshow, complete with the occasional circus music. "Comic Strips" seems to be a little on the Gentle Giant side, until the part that goes "Listen, you are the writer" that sounds distinctly Genesis-like (and I can almost imagine Lanzetti wear silly costumes like Gabriel whenever I hear that one). "Morning Comes" starts off very Genesis-like but with a more Italian bent to it. "Education Story" is the one cut on this album that most resembles Family, for some reason I am reminded of some of the material on that group's 1971 album Fearless. "Song From a Picture" is a nice little acoustic ditty that also reminds me of Genesis. As a vinyl enthusiast, I am lucky to own the original LP, which was released on Numero Uno, the Italian label that also brought us PFM (as well as Il Volo and Formula 3). The original LP has a cover that folds in to a giant poster much like Beggars Opera's Pathfinder or Ramases' Space Hymns, which means, if you have the vinyl copy of Acqua Fragile's debut, hold on to it, not only because of the cool packaging, but it's also hard to come by. If you're a lover of Italian prog, or a Genesis or Family fan, then this might be for you.

One of the most interesting things about "Acqua Fragile", the debut Italian-only release (Hey Amazon: Don't forget about "Mass Media Stars"), is the way that the enormous technical talent of these great Italian musicians (in a style that is a cross between PFM, Genesis, Yes, and Gentle Giant) contrasts with Bernardo Lanzetti's very broken English (yet rich) vocal qualities. At first it's kind of amusing when you hear it - then you are hooked. By the way, both releases are sung entirely in English, it's just that the English is sung so thickly accented it sounds Italian.

I think the band's best song is on this album - a mandolin-drenched tune called "Going Out," which alone is worth the price of admission (I am amazed someone finally decided to issue this on CD for the first time). A very moody tune which showcases Lanzetti's superb vocal talents. Another great tune, "Morning Comes," comes with Hackett-style guitar and Banks-keyboard, and both these songs use richly textured Yes-style vocal arrangements.

If you like Lanzetti-era PFM, or like Foxtrot/Nursery Cryme-era Genesis, you will probably like both "Acqua Fragile" and their second and last album "Mass Media Stars" (So far, only on vinyl). Lanzetti's vocal qualities are as great on these as on his PFM works, and he has Gabriel-like similarities.

These two are among my most prized prog records, and I actually like them better than most of the PFM releases, because these songs are usually more simply structured and more vocal based, and the compositions, particularly the melodies, are far superior to a lot of the PFM material.

It's hard to say which album I like better. The second is more consistent than the first, but I think both disks have very innovative and creative material and I suggest you locate and obtain both.

PFM fans will probably want this disc because of Lanzetti alone.

"Morning Comes" usually gets kudos as the best track - - even (or especially) by those who complain that it sounds like early Genesis and Gentle Giant (true enough)- - but I think "Science Fiction Suite" beats it to heck: lovely West Coast harmonies and a lilting melody to die for above an energetic and beautifully strummed twelve-stringed acoustic bed. Yes, Bernardo Lanzetti at times recalls both Peter Gabriel and, especially on "Comic Strips" and "Education Story", Roger Chapman. But why complain about that? If you don't like those guys, it naturally follows you won't like this. If you do, quit yer cryin'. Another common comparison is contemporary PFM, but no. It's true that they were on the same label for a while (so were Mrs. Elva Miller and the Beatles, not to make any direct comparisons) and that Lanzetti would join PFM a couple of years later. But play this along with (say) PER UN AMICO and you'll hear the differences. A better comparison would be that middle-period PFM (er, Lanzetti was the vocalist on CHOCOLATE KINGS and JET LAG after all) sounded not a little like Acqua Fragile. Anyway, it's too bad that Acqua Fragile have always been a second-tier consideration at best . . . they deserved better.

Well apart from their attempt to make the italian people remind of the Gentle Giant style (they have "stolen" the refrain-chorus from G.G. in the track "Comix strips"),they have made an important imprinting of their own, without forgetting anyway the "Yes-oriented" ballads(listen to "Science Fiction suite",which was inspired by "I've seen all good people" from "YESALBUM" and also "Wonderous stories" from "GOING FOR THE ONE");but here Bernardo Lanzetti takes a lot from his personal experience too ...that is the style that He brought to PFM in the remarkable album "Chocolate Kings", as for his clear romantic taste, typical of that period (1976),helped by a delicious sound and enriched with a "waterfall" of mellotron as well. The "ACQUA FRAGILE TRADEMARK" is more visible in the excellent "Song from a picture", even if the sound is quite Yes-like and under the influence of PFM too (in the track "Going out" they are influenced by Yes once again, but without stolen any kind of stuff!!)... The final track "Three hands man" is their best and more personal too, in my opinion, (after 5 minutes and an half you find the splendid atmosphere similar to that one coming from the markets of Naple-Italy, which grows in dynamics more and more,by culminating into the organ solo- a certain mood as "tarantella" and the piano crescendo as well(such crescendo reminds us of Tony Banks by Genesis), as long as Lanzetti leads the remarkable ensemble to the end. Their chorus, Yes-like, is the right style for this song and it works well, making this album well worth checking out!!

Recommended to all the people with taste!!

...of the previous reviewer's comment that part of "Science Fiction Suite" was based on "Wondrous Stories" by Yes. I bought both this album and "Going for the One" when they were originally released, and considering that the Acqua Fragile debut came out more than a year before "Going for the One," I doubt they were influenced by "Wondrous Stories!" Perhaps it was the other way around!

By the way, this is a pretty good album, if you're a mid-70's prog enthusiast.

This debut by the Italian prog-outfit Acqua was released in Italy in 1976. They remained together for two albums until the vocalist, Bernardo Lanzetti, went on to front PFM. This is a strong effort. There are brief moments when one is reminded of early Genesis and early Gentle Giant but overall they have an original sound. The musicianship is competent but not of as high a caliber as one would wish (they are no PFM). The vocals, which are in english, are outstanding even if the lyrics are occassionally awkward. A couple of the cuts fall short but overall it's a satisfying listen. Worth obtaining but not essential...Simon