Acqua Fragile

The Italian progressive outfit Acqua Fragile emerged in 1971 and spent the next two years performing live before PFM, the leading lights of the Italian scene, took notice and secured them a recording deal. Their self-titled debut arrived in 1973 under PFM’s co-production and revealed a clear allegiance to the Trespass-era sound of Genesis and Gentle Giant, mixing rustic passages with harder-rocking sections. Critics routinely likened the group to Genesis and Gentle Giant overall, while noting that its vocal blend echoed the lush style of Crosby, Stills & Nash; frontman Bernardo Lanzetti, whose piercing delivery dominated the arrangements, was frequently dubbed the Italian Peter Gabriel. Unlike many prog contemporaries, the band favored concise songs. On the 1974 follow-up Mass Media Stars, again co-produced by PFM, Acqua Fragile shed its folk-leaning side in favor of a pronounced keyboard focus. The group dissolved in 1975, after which Lanzetti joined PFM.