CHERRY FIVE

The Cherry Five self-titled debut is an interesting album not quite like many of the other Italian progressive bands of the era. Rather than the elegant grandiosity of some the competition Cherry Five is a lean, mean machine with a sound that is breathlessly energetic, rocking, and tight. Curiously, at the time it arrived in the mid-70s the sound was a strangely retro one. Retro in that it sounds amazingly like the first two Yes albums, so much so that if Jon Anderson were singing for this band rather than Tony Tartarini you would think you were hearing extra material from the early Yes sessions of the debut and "Time and a Word." From the driving beginnings of "Country Grave Yard" you will think of Peter Banks era Yes and if you like the pre-Fragile era, you are in for a real treat. These guys are very tight players with nice vocal harmonies. There really is not a weak spot in that sense, the rhythm section is a blast to listen to and the lead playing is exuberant! There is plenty of mellotron and other vintage keyboards to compliment the excellent lead guitar work of Massimo Morante. Unfortunately the vocals are in English rather than Italian but aside from that they are acceptable. Carlo Bordini will blow your mind on the kit with his impressive fills all over the place, sounding a bit like a crazed Bruford in places. The performances are top notch even if the style is derivative, and the sound on the CD reissue is nice and punchy with good bass that will slam your head against the wall. The music here is not looking to break any new ground but rather to have a great time and it succeeds there with boundless enthusiasm. A good album to be sure but recommended mostly to Italian fans and early Yes fans. The members would eventually move on from this and assume the name Goblin, leaving the Cherry Five as an interesting novelty but not an essential progressive title. 3 affectionate stars.

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