LIMITE ACQUE SICURE

Let this wash over you. Don't listen too hard, especially at first. With deep analysis, there's only a little new here (there is some, cool!), but what it does, it does so well that it works beautifully as a great example, and a modern one at that, of Rock Progressivo Italiano.

Think, if you had never heard Banco and you heard this, I believe it would hit you quite powerfully and artistically. Yes, it is a bit neo but if done well, Neo tends to come off like a rebirth of classic car with all the modern gadgets and essentially looks quite similar, yet if look closely you will recognize it is a remake. Something is a little different, a little less authentic about it. Actually this "neo" quality is a strange phenomenon. It always reminds me of Stravinsky and his neo classical, not in terms of the music but that peculiar "Neo" quality, if you will.

This is all to say that this has grown on me and I feel safe and entertained. Perhaps, being as they continue, and I certainly hope they do!, they might embrace some of the great Modern Classical Composers (Berio, Nono, etc) who had a distinct flavor and vibe that identified them as something uniquely Italian. I think Banco played with this a bit, but it would maybe break the music away from some of the slightly lame songwriting aspects. Go Bold! A nice addition to any modern library.

This band from Ferrara put out a 2022 debut album that was met with both high ratings and positive comments from the community, and well deserved as they had been a Banco tribute group which helped them hone their considerable chops, having paid their dues for 17 long years. They have now just launched their sophomore release, and it is fair to say, that a new milestone has been reached. These 'ragazzi' form a well-oiled 'squadra' that plays offensive minded prog, with little holding back or kicking the ball around without purpose. Every detail is crisp and emotive, the pace endlessly varied, and the technique flawless.

"Joker" is an urgent prog tornado, a whirling dervish opener that has all the tastiest ingredients for a full-blown magnum opus in the making. Colossal riffs and thunderous beats combine to blow away both any rust or dust, a strangulating bass carving up any opposition, and a male vocal flow two Italian steps from Gentle Giant in tone, the chorus devastating and agreeably pompous. The piano and harpsichord whip out a couple of aces, the harmony choir vocals provide a series of red queens, a bluffing drum package to outdo all the odds, and a final full house to take the tokens to the cashier and venture off into the night. Deeply rooted in the RPI tradition of blending Italian folk, medieval music, prog and storytelling of the highest order, "Il Raconto di Juan della Sua Terra" submits to this thrilling style with a fervor only a couple of 'espressi corti' could fuel. The crisp Luca Trabanelli electric guitars, the somersaulting drum patterns of Paolo Bolognesi, a wicked reptilian bass courtesy of Francesco Gigante and Antonello Giovannelli's over the top keyboard showmanship keep the audition breathless and inspirational. Intertwined with acoustic guitar, punchy piano and Andrea Chendi's evocative singing, the spirit and mood of the often-brutal Spanish conquest of America are maintained at the highest level, a true team effort that puts music into a story with operatic zeal.

Inspired by the first Christmas of World War 1, the stately 10 minute+ epic "Natale 1914" suggests a sombre mood that needed to be galvanized by the tradition of family, so very steeped in Italian lore, in order to overcome the horror of the Great War and its interminable sacrifices. An homage to the millions of young men, dying in a variety of gruesome ways, from mass artillery, bayonet charges, exploding mines and even mustard gas attacks that choked the life out of many a conscript. Ambra Bianchi adds her celestial soprano wailing to a colossal main theme that is nearly eternal, the cobra bass coiling like rolls of barbed wire, the insistent Trabanelli guitar phrasings are irresistible, as the roar of war collides with the serenity of a truce between belligerents, this is just plain wonderful music. E basta!

A piano etude reveals the beauty of this instrument on the grandiose "?Non il Bergerac", with classy dual vocals as both Ambra and Andrea share the microphones. The overarching chorus sets in firmly as the arrangement rises into a massive anthem, every note perfectly placed, the pace resolute and the instrumental soloing blowing the roof off, a slippery synth blast followed by a bellowing axe explosion, the gears constantly shifting like the famed prancing horse known worldwide. A little traditional accordion canzone feel to finish off. Bravo!

The lovely Ambra takes over the vocally commanding "Chita", a poignant narrative of female emancipation and the long suffering of abuse that woman had to endure, being viewed as second class citizens. The central melody is bombastic and heartfelt, the piano and guitar dancing with each other in complete partnership, with a constant ebb and flow that keeps the foot squarely on the accelerator. Her final scat /wail spot is an absolute album high point, not too far from legendary Clare Torry territory, as Bolognesi syncopates a la Bill Bruford underneath with athletic gusto.

The thunder and lightning reappear on "Storie Perdute ", a rousing lesson in quality prog composition, stamped with equal amounts of vigor, contrast, mood, and passion. There is even a whistling section! Each member gets to extol the virtues of their capabilities, such as the duality of organ and mellotron, allied in work ethic, while the rhythm section wreaks havoc at every turn, like a controlled race with countless obstacles.

Already in January, with 11 months to go, this vital work has already been anointed (and added) to my very best list of 2025

5 dealer decks

If this album had come out in the early 70s today we would still be talking about it, it would have been a masterpiece. Listening to "Un'altra Mano Di Carte" today brings to mind the best albums by LE ORME and BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO, but not only, here we are faced with a symphonic prog of excellent workmanship. Lovers of this genre will love this album from the first listen. However, it is 2025 and for those who do not appreciate this music enough, this album will sound kinda dated. LIMITE ACQUE SCURE (that means "Secure Water Limit") with "Un'Altra Mano Di Carte" (Another Hand Of cards) give us six tracks of excellent progressive rock, really well played to the point that the curiosity to see this band live is certainly not small. Anyway, I do believe that, even though this year has just begun, this album will most likely be among the best prog productions of 2025.

Limite Acque Sicure came to life in Ferrara in 2005 on the initiative of Andrea Chendi and Antonello Giovannelli, initially just with the aim of playing covers of historic prog bands from the seventies. After some personnel changes and many years of live activity on the local scene, in 2022 the band released on the independent Minotauro Records label a very interesting eponymous debut work featuring their own compositions in vintage style (and one cover) with a line up featuring Andrea Chendi (vocals) and Antonello Giovannelli (piano, synth, organ) along with Ambra Bianchi (vocals, flute, harp, percussion), Francesco Gigante (bass), Paolo Bolognesi (drums) and Luca Trabanelli (guitars). According to the band, it's a concept album "sui generis" where all the tracks follow in some way a common thread: the eternal challenge with the unknown. The art cover gives a clue of the content...

The long, complex opener "Sogno d'oriente" (Oriental dream) begins softly but soon heavy electric guitar riffs break the dreamy atmosphere. In fact, the dreams evoked here by the music and lyrics are not those of the folktales narrated by Scheherazade in the "One Thousand and One Nights" but those of people who try to escape from wars, famine and adversities. Looking for a better place and a better future, some of them walk for miles and miles, crossing borders and rivers while others embark on ships in very bad conditions defying storms and raging waves. Often their hopes collide with reality and what they find at the end of their efforts is just another miserable place, if not death...

The introspective "Terra straniera" (Foreign land) begins by a piano solo passage, the atmosphere is tense and melancholic. The music and words tell of the sense of alienation felt by a person who is cut off from the society around him and feels like a stranger in his own land. What he has to do to overcome his blue mood is to be positive and follow the brightest star in the sky...

A pulsing rhythm introduces the following "Il respiro dell'anima" (The breath of soul), a piece about the mystery of birth, life and death. It depicts a kind of mystical journey that begins from the relationship between a mother and her child and continues until maturity and awareness. All in all, we are nothing but blood and matter in search of the soul...

"Antico mare" (Ancient sea) begins by the sound of the waves. The atmosphere is relaxed and dreamy. The music and lyrics evoke ancient civilizations and forgotten gods, battles and legends, bold warriors and beautiful women, mighty walls and talking masks, philosophers and poets. The shores of the Mediterranean Sea are full of the signs of a glorious past that still lives in our memories and the hope is that in the future the waves of this sea will bring more beauty and less wars...

"Fiamme intorno" (Flames around) is a complex piece about time passing by, regrets and hopes. It begins with a tense atmosphere while the music and lyrics describe a poet who feels that time is standing still. He can't find the words to express himself, he has no more ideals to fight for. Around him there are ghosts that dance like flames, the time that has passed can not return and the rivers where words once flowed are now dry and full of the dust of the past. Then the tension eases, resignation and bewilderment give way to new energies that fill the inner void of the protagonist. As the artist accepts to live in harmony with his new reality the inspiration comes back... According to the liner notes, this piece is dedicated to the memory of Neil Peart.

The long epic "Il giardino del mago" (The wizard's garden) is a cover of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and was recorded live. It's an interesting tribute to one of the bands that inspired them the most and it leads to the last track, "Ti salverà" (It will save you), short, folksy song that begins by a strummed acoustic guitar. It's a reprise of the last part of the second track, "Terra straniera" where the lyrics invite you to look up and follow the brightest star in the sky, a metaphorical ideal to not get lost in the path of life. According to an interview with the band, it's a kind of synthesis of this work: "as a virtuous attitude to maintain in the passages, in the evolutions of our life and our being, we wanted to propose the pursuit of an ideal, of a star that guides us... ".

On the whole, an excellent album where vintage sounds and original ideas merge convincingly.

This new Italian band was founded in 2005, in the northern part of Italy. In 2016 Limite Acque Sicure turns into a six- piece formation, with members from different origins and horizons, from metal to fusion, from classical to rock, but this is precisely the secret of their formula. "The group is an area of confrontation, the different musical experiences represent a precious resource on which we have continually drawn. The songs represent the synthesis or rather the possibility of cohabitation under the same roof". After keyboard player Antonello contacted me (we are fellow vintage keyboard lovers) I decided to write a review here.

The album starts with the epic composition Sogno D'Oriente (12:48) featuring a sultry Arabian atmosphere, blended with fiery guitar, orchestral keyboards, strong Italian vocals and cheerful flute, to me it sounds like 'Classic Italian Prog meets Rock Andaluz', wow! Then lots of interesting shifting moods. From a percussive break with a sparkling flute solo to a spectacular Minimoog soli with pitchbend, fuelled by propulsive rock guitar riffs and drum beats. From a Neo-prog sound with guitar and soaring keyboards to a fiery guitar solo, culminating in a break with percussion, and finally soaring flute. What a promising start!

Then Terra Straniera (7:53), first tender Grand piano runs and wailing cello, followed by melancholical vocals, tender piano and flute. Halfway an accellaration and a more lush sound with excellent vocals, soft Hammond waves and pleasant work on the flute. Next a slow rhythm in a dreamy atmosphere with flute, and a long and moving electric guitar solo with wah-wah. And finally duo male and female vocals, a fine trademark on this album. Although the band plays at a high technical level the music sounds melodic and harmonic, never too complex or self-indulgent.

Next Il Respiro Dell'Anima (8:25), to me evoking the awesome fusion/jazzrock by Al DiMeola with powerful work on guitar and synthesizer. Then a slow rhythm and romantic vocals, in a Neo-prog atmosphere featuring a sumptuous eruption with fiery guitar and a majestic Mellotron choir sound, topped with duo vocals and exciting harder-edged guitar with bombastic Mellotron choirs. Halfway dreamy piano and vocals and finally spacey synthesizer flights in slow rhythm, culminating in a bombastic eruption with powerful vocals and flashy synthesizer runs.

Now Antico Mare (8:02), it contains a mellow piano intro, then wonderful vocals, strongly reminding me of Le Orme. The music contains frequent shifting moods with strong musical ideas, huge tension and exciting dynamics. The focus is on harder-edged electric guitar, from moving to heavy runs, in contrast with soaring flute play.

The epic composition Fiamme Intorno (10:48) evokes the early, very interesting work of Saga, with catchy interplay between guitar and keyboards, the sound alternates between slow rhythms and mellow climates, topped with beautiful vocals and flute. Halfway a moving guitar solo, and then the distinctive soaring string-ensemble sound, blended with a spacey Minimoog solo, celestial female vocals, and another moving electric guitar solo. In the second part Saga and Al DiMeola elements are blended with again strong own musical ideas. From a spacey Minimoog solo with pitchbend to exciting rock guitar and keyboards interplay. The compelling grand finale features sumptuous Mellotron choirs, fiery guitar and an excellent rhythm-section, another "wow", this band never stops to thrill me!

The next song is a the (live) cover Il Giardino Del Mago (15:51) from Classic Italian Prog legend Banco Strong, a good rendition, it sounds a bit more modern, and of course the singer is no Francesco but does a good job, the crowd loves it.

Finally short the track Ti Salverà (2:11), it contains a folky atmosphere with acoustic rhythm guitar, harp, flute and romantic vocals, a nice conclusion, showing the mellow side of the band.

I am impressed by this new Italian prog band with their first album, these are excellent musicians, with interesting different musical backgrounds, what a chemistry, I am already looking forward to their next effort, highly recommended!

They are entitled corresponding to a red wine label produced in central Italy. Furthermore LIMITE ACQUE SICURE was formed in Ferrara as a Banco tribute band by lead singer Andrea Chendi and Antonello Giovannelli (keyboards). All in all a promising starting point, right? Their self-named debut album is offering own compositions though. Okay, one minor exception marks the extended Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso cover Il Giardino Del Mago, and this actually played live on the stage. Seven tracks of round about one hour playing time. The album recordings were realized by a six-piece group then, completed due to Luca Trabanelli (guitars), Paolo Bolognesi (drums), Francesco Gigante (bass). And since 2016 the band is taking its current shape in addition with Ambra Bianchi (flute, vocals).

The Mediterranean Sea and the limits of safe waters. According to the band name respectively album title, plus cover illustration too in the end, the concept recalls the risk in undertaking new, probably difficult and unknown paths, physically but also psychologically. That's the intellectual framework for the recorded songs that were developed for this album. Lyrics and track titles are in native language of course. Successfully accomplished, charming and heavier sections are constantly alternating within the particular songs. Ambra Bianchi's nice flute contributions are refining the sound, for example to note the charming transition into Terra Straniera. Then you'll detect a well arranged male and female vocal cooperation on Il Respiro dell'Anima. Alternatively Fiamme Intorno is more focusing on diverse breaks and turns, skilled instrumental passages. Greatly appreciated. Released on Minotauro Records this album is a must have.