Acqua Fragile
Mass-Media Stars

Mass-Media Stars is the second and final album by Acqua Fragile, released in 1974, a year before their disbandment. Like the previous one, it is entirely sung in English and was therefore also released in the USA. The music expressed does not stray far from their first work, except for a more refined and complex structure of the songs, as well as more lively. The progressive roots of Anglo-Saxon nature remain evident, although this work, in my opinion, has much of PFM. Not for nothing, their manager Franco Mamone was the same as that of Premiata.

The album opens with the evocative voice of Bernardo Lanzetti who takes us into the colorful "Cosmic Mind Affair", rich in excellent guitar phrasing over a nice sound mix, seasoned with choirs and keyboards. The rhythm section, curated by Pier Emilio Canavera, is also prominent. Towards the middle of the song, there are again voice plays with the initial theme and then a particular synth intermezzo, all very well curated.
"Bar Gazing" brings us into more delicate and dreamy atmospheres where Lanzetti showcases his famous voice in gentle or imposing vocals when the song requires it. Masterpiece.
This is interrupted by the title track, rich in guitar, with keyboards always in the foreground, not allowing any moments of pause to the song, which, like the entire work, is pleasant and colorful. Here too you can notice how Lanzetti enjoyed playing with his voice, interpreting different roles within the song, as Peter Gabriel was also accustomed to doing.
"Opening Act" does not deny the nature of the group and after a rather particular vocal intro, it leaves space for the beauty of the song, which first develops into excellent musical parts, then into vocal spurts and closes with choirs.
"Professor" is also beautiful, with a first part that is instrumentally very refined, interrupted by choirs and synthesizers, both very present in the work. In the finale, a sketch that to call extraordinary is not an understatement but just. It's a pity it wasn't carried forward properly but stops at its most beautiful.
"Coffee Song" summarizes everything said so far, another pleasant and harmonious piece that fully identifies the style of Lanzetti & Co. The excellent motif accompanies us to the end, leaving a bit of a bitter taste thinking that this album is the last of the band, which certainly could have given much more to Italian progressive.

A band to rediscover.