IL VIAGGIO DI COLOMBO

Italian band Il Cerchio d'Oro originally formed in 1974 but subsequently disbanded in 1980 due to the general loss of interest in prog around that time. They had been unable to get a recording deal and therefore never released an album, although they did finally manage to put out a few singles during the closing years of the decade. The band reformed with original members in 2006 and two years later released their first full-length recording, the concept album Il Viaggio di Colombo. Here the story of Columbus' famed voyage of discovery is used as an analogy to illustrate one's journey of self-discovery.

The music here is very much in the style and spirit of the classic bands of the 1970s. There are many fine guitar and keyboard exchanges and all five members of the band sing, which makes for some nice variety in the vocals department. Il Cerchio d'Oro originally got together as a trio and fellow Italians Le Orme are an obvious influence, probably most evident on songs like the keyboards-led IL SILENZIO RUMOROSO DEL MARE and PREGHIERA AL VENTO.

They also admit to having been influenced by Pink Floyd and you can hear this in the spacey guitar and sustained organ of SOGNANDO LA META and CERCANDO L'APPRODO. These guys can rock as well though, and on LERI, OGGI, ANCORA NIENTE they sound a bit like Deep Purple or even Uriah Heep thanks to the gravel-toned organ and wah wah guitar. In fact one other track, COLOMBO, sounds remarkably akin to the latter's ''Gypsy''. Having said all that, they really do have their own sound so they shouldn't be thought of as clones.

This is another excellent album that seems to have slipped under the radar as it only has a tiny handful of reviews on the site. It gets better with every spin and it's rounded off with a couple of bonus tracks from 1977 that, although a bit commercial, aren't at all bad. One final word on the excellent packaging... not only does the digipack contain some lovely period artwork and full lyrics, it goes the extra mile and provides English translations of the lyrics. Thoughtful.