Acqua Fragile - "Acqua Fragile" (1973)

Acqua Fragile's selftitled debutalbum from 1973 is a pretty calm affair. Bernardo Lanzetti who is the singer would later join P.F.M. for their 1976' album "Chocolate Kings". He has a very special voice, sounding a bit like Roger Chapman from Family and perhaps a bit like Peter Gabriel. Unfortunately the whole album is sung in englisg wish isnt what I prefer. Not only for the bad pharsing and pronounciation, but also because this means the songs lack their ususal warmth and 'orginality' when not sung in italian, the native language.

"Morning Comes" (7:22) is one of the best tracks here, it shifts easily between good themes that seems a bit cheesy and commercial at one time just to roll over to a frenzy jam the next moment. Just when you thought this would be a slow track with delicate themes it switches over into much harder and faster melodies. Strong and powerful track with good arrangements. "Comic Strips" (3:56) - I have a hard time to put my finger on this. And certainly this time you can hear just how eerily similar Lanzetti sounds to Family's singer. The track has somewhat strange themes, coming off sounding experimental, very much sounding like Gentle Giant in parts. I'm not the biggest GG-fan in the world, so this track doesnt do much for me.
"Science Fiction Suite" (5:54) - Again the influences and compositioning turns to another genre. This is folk-rock, sounding like Crosby, Stills & nash in their heydays. I really dont know what to think about this track. I like the early albums by CSN but this seems a bit out of place on an album like this. The danger with this kind of tracks is that the lack of instruments and interesting themes make it sound a bit dull and repetative. Only acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies here. A bit too long and bare for my taste. "Song From A Picture" (4:09), is a better track, full of powerful yet melodious themes. Still, the lighthearted themes and lyrics make it sound just a bit too commercial to my ears.

"Education Story" (4:12) is another track that sounds like Genesis cirka Trespass-Nursery Cryme. Very dramatic but with instrumental breaks that are challenging and impressive. "Going Out" (2:56) is a shorter track, a melodious ballad that sounds equal parts hollow and slightly uninspired despite fine vocal harmonies. "Three Hands Man" (8:07) is a very fast and enegetic track and also the longest here. Possibly also the best track, full of odd twists and timesignatures. The instrumental breaks and shifting themes sound really inspired this time. Present again are also the impressive vocal harmonies. This is finally the Acqua Fargile sound fulfilled but unfortunately it comes a bit too late to save the album.

To me this is a very uneven affair. It contains lots of promises and interesting hooks but in the end this album doesnt reach up to its standards. The unsatisfying blend of genres just makes the impression more unfocused. Maybe if the band had stuck to a more progressive sound they would have made it. If the band could deliever the same energy and complex progressive rock as in the first and last track, then this would be a whole other affair. Now they come off as sounding weak and average due to some pale tracks. Consider also the fact that 1973 was a very, very good year in Italy for symphonic rock so Acqua Fragile had some extremly hard competition.