Stellar Debut by Limite Acque Sicure

Limite Acque Sicure – Limite Acque Sicure (Minotauro Records, 2022)

It is a delight to see a constant flow of superb Italian progressive rock groups. This time, the spotlight is on a highly talented band from Ferrara, in northeastern Italy, called Limite Acque Sicure (Safe Water Limit or Border).

Although the musicians come from various backgrounds, the style is state-of-the-art Rock Progresivo Italiano, deeply inspired by masters like Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme and other greats.

Limite Acque Sicure’s vocalist has a magnificent voice that sounds surprisingly like Aldo Tagliapietra (Le Orme) although you can also find affinities with Banco and other top tier Italian vocalists.

The band plays lengthy suites that are masterfully orchestrated using an arsenal of captivating keyboards plus lovely flute, exquisite harp and a solid rhythm section. I have mixed feelings about the guitarist, Luca Trabanelli. When he solos and shreds, he does an outstanding job. However, sometimes he adds unnecessary hard and heavy rock riffs that add little value and interest to the music. Aside from that, Limite Acque Sicure’s epic pieces are truly excellent.   

 “What we have absorbed from the world of progressive-rock, and which we believe can summarize the characteristic of our approach to music, is the unpredictability. Which does not automatically mean having to search for artificial or unnecessarily complicated solutions just for the sake of appearing original; rather, it means telling stories that have strong meanings, in which everyone can find his own experience, with musical progresses to which we have not imposed constraints or models,” says the band.

The self-titled debut, “Limite Acque Sicure,” is a concept album inspired by the philosophy of human and artistic progress, tempting fate, and evolvement: “the change of self-awareness, of the perception of the relationship with one’s world, of the real journey, of the need to satisfy the fundamental needs of life. The concept of evolution also extends to the level of civilization, or to human sentiment, like that of a mother for her children, a tiring path, always beyond the limit.”

Formed in 2005 in Ferrara, Limite Acque Sicure became a sextet in 2016. “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.”

Aside from its top-notch original material, Limite Acque Sicure also performs an extraordinary version of the Banco classic ‘Il Giardino del Mago’ (from the debut album Banco del Mutuo Soccorso). “It was a great satisfaction and a great honor to perform the music of Banco, which was very stimulant for us, it represents a step towards an original musical proposal. The suite is one of the most significant songs in the entire history of progressive, and one of the most challenging to play. Not only and not so much from a technical point of view, but above all of interpretation, of atmosphere. We have tried to exalt the sense of expectation, of mystery that pervades the whole piece, facing the difficulties, even of live performance, with all the caution and respect that it is necessary and inevitable to reserve for great works of art.”

The Limite Acque Sicure lineup includes Andrea Chendi on lead vocals; Ambra Bianchi on flute, vocals and harp; Antonello Giovannelli on keyboards; Luca Trabanelli on guitars; Paolo Bolognesi drums; and Francesco Gigante on bass.

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