January 2025 has started timidly in the field of progressive rock but, even if the new albums are not numerous, this second album from 'Limite Acque Sicure' has a good chance of marking the year 2025 in this style of music. This Italian band was created about twenty years ago, but it was only in 2022 that the group's first eponymous album, which became a sextet, was released, taking up the long development 'Il Giardino Del Mago' from 'Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso', and integrating itself completely into the great tradition of Italian progressive rock bands (Spotify link and Qobuz link). This second studio recording 'Un'Altra Mano Di Carte', I quote their web page, "is a concept album telling stories of life experiences by characters, sometimes fictional and sometimes real, sometimes current and sometimes distant in time. We approach deep, little frequented and in some cases uncomfortable topics. Always, at the end, with a thread of hope, with the possibility of redemption, with a ray of light that indicates a solution." Six compositions between 7 and 10 minutes, leaving room for magnificent progressive wanderings, this is the menu of this new opus that shows us all the talent of this Italian band.
We are welcomed by 'Joker' which begins with an instrumental part in imposing symphonic rock, and which continues in imaginative and harmonious progressive, with several changes of atmosphere, the central part offering magnificent captivating vocals and the second part, before the epic finale, delivering a new instrumental section in which the harpsichord, which we do not often have the opportunity to hear in progressive, brings a very appreciable classical side. Lighter, but still very catchy melodically, 'Il Raconto di Juan della Sua Terra' takes us into refined Italian progressive that gives an irresistible desire to mark the catchy rhythm, the central section bringing a beautiful richness and instrumental diversity. Followed by 'Natale 1914' which slows down the tempo for a long development filled with palpable emotion, this title plunging us into the truce of the first Christmas of the Great War and which is this strong symbol of humanity in the midst of the madness that is war. The musical atmosphere deployed is up to the strength of the theme with 'Ambra Bianchi' which offers us a series of vocalises of fantastic sensitivity in the long and remarkable central instrumental part.
In the same calm and serene atmosphere, 'Non il Bergerac' is a tribute to an old theatre actor who has known success in the past: the title begins with a very beautiful stripped-down part on the piano and, after a first half in the form of a beautiful ballad as the Italians know so well how to do, the title flies away to other skies with a faster rhythm, and falls back at the end with a wonderful guitar solo by 'Luca Trabanelli'. 'Chita' is another beautiful moment of emotion, 'Ambra Bianchi' offering us a poignant vocal performance in a construction which alternates between slow parts and more spirited ones bringing a striking contrast and the finale with new heartbreaking vocalises being of an extraordinary emotional power. The last composition 'Storie Perdute' is in some way the epilogue of this remarkable album and a beautiful summary of the whole, whether in terms of the stories told by this storyteller, passing them down from generation to generation, simply to not forget, but also in terms of music because this last title is a remarkable progressive labyrinth with beautiful alternations between sung and instrumental parts in which each artist brings his stone to the building.
In summary, 'Limite Acque Sicure' offers us a magnificent new album and shows that there are contemporary progressive formations in Italy who are riding the wave of 'Banco del Mutuo Soccorso' or 'Le Orme' or 'Premiata Forneria Marconi' and who perpetuate wonderfully well this style well anchored among our transalpine friends for decades. 'Un'Altra Mano Di Carte' opens the year 2025 in the best way possible in progressive rock... | |
