CINQUE

Deus ex Machina continues to be perhaps the most underappreciated prog-rock band in the world, as well as continuing to surprise their audience with ever-progressing prog-rock sensibitilies. With Cinque, they have hit an amazing balance between their obvious influences (Mahavishnu Orchestra, ELP, U.K. et al) and their own admittedly (and happily) strange brand of prog-rock. It almost doesn't matter that the lyrics are printed and sung (and sometimes screamed) in Latin by oddball bandleader Piras: his (and his bandmates') ability to seamlessly blend those lyrics with truly "orchestral" prog-rock is eminently enjoyable, as well as often quite exciting. This is an album you can listen to multiple times and never get bored of it.