
It is with pleasure that we received and we are listening the second album by Italian Progressive Rock band Limite Acque Sicure. After the convincing debut album, this new work titled “Un’Altra Mano Di Carte” was released on January 24, 2025 via Minotauro Records and contains 6 tracks. Electronic keyboard sounds open the album and “Joker,” immediately plunges us into the band’s progressive sounds. A granitic mixture of keyboards and guitar over a solid and elaborate rhythm section, full of tempo changes. The textures are elaborate and bring the atmospheres of the golden age of Prog into a modern and distinctly personal context. The vocals are warm and expressive, reminiscent of the singers of the early 70s, with choral refrains intertwining male and female voices. In a succession of sung parts and intense instrumental sections, between symphonic openings and more elaborate passages, the track takes us straight into exploring the band’s pleasant Prog sounds. Dreamy atmospheres and sweet woodwind melodies open “Il Racconto Di Juan Della Sua Terra,” before turning into a solid, elaborate prog piece with a prominent synth. Keyboards drive the sound in the first part, in the vocal verses the sound is softer with guitar arpeggios and a meaningful and incisive vocal. The choral refrains also characterise this piece, developed in a continuous crescendo of intensity, culminating in a prolonged instrumental section that accompanies us throughout the central part of the song. With the return of the vocal for the last stanzas, the track concludes. The longest track on the album, “Natale 1914,” which exceeds or 10 minutes in length, opens with marching drumming. The band takes advantage of the long duration to evolve the central theme of the track through intense and sophisticated instrumental textures that enhance the interplay of guitar and keyboards. The vocals are warm and expressive, with a pleasant interweaving of male and female vocals, alternating with the instrumental parts. An excellent piece of Progressive that contains within it references to the various eras of the genre, united by the band’s personal style. In a succession of refined phrasing and sung parts, the song flows very pleasantly, enhancing the band’s compositional and performing technique. “Non Il Bergerac” features a prolonged dreamy piano intro, culminating in an intense song with a deep vocal. The intensity increases as the minutes go by, developing into an instrumental section in the second part with the lead guitar as the protagonist. With the return of the vocal, the track concludes, a softer passage than the previous ones, but still very intense. Guitar arpeggios and an intense female vocal characterize the intro of “Chita,” a track that displays a sound steeped in Mediterranean flavors. Melancholic atmospheres permeate the track, with the intense female vocal taking center stage with pleasant piano textures in a continuous musical crescendo. Alternating between the band’s classical sounds with a touch of traditional music from the Mediterranean area and an absolute top-notch vocal test, the track shows us another facet of its sound, enhancing its own origins. The album ends with the gritty “Storie Perdute,” which returns to more classic Prog sounds with a Heavy twist. The guitarand keyboard mixtures combine tradition with mdoerne sounds, with warm and expressive male vocals interpreting the lyrics. The tempo changes are an added value to the track, as are the instrumental textures, elaborate and very intense. In a continuous alternation of sung parts and instrumental sections, the track concludes this splendid album, leaving us wanting to listen to this album again in the future. A band that confirms the good things heard and appreciated previously in our rcension. An Italian Progressive Rock sound that brings the historical sounds of the 70s into a modern and markedly personal context. Good instrumental textures cher alternate with expressive vocal parts, creating long tracks well composed and performed. A recommended listen for all lovers of the classic sounds of Italian Progressive Rock, proposed with a modern and personal touch.
Tracklist
01. Joker (8:35)
02. Il Racconto Di Juan Della Sua Terra (7:20)
03. Natale 1914 (10:13)
04. Non Il Bergerac (8:02)
05. Chita (8:56)
06. Storie Perdute (8:14)
Lineup
Andrea Chendi / Vocals
Ambra Bianchi / Flute, Vocals, Harp
Antonello Giovannelli / Keyboards
Luca Trabanelli / Guitars
Paolo Bolognesi / Drums
Francesco Gigante / Bass