BUON VECCHIO CHARLIE

From the awfully translated liner notes from the digipack Akarma re-issue of the posthumous release, it says that these guys were the back-up band from two different pop singer in Italy, and this album was actually a side project, that never got a release until the 90's. Please note that the Akarma release has a very different artwork sleeve from the one pictured here (the Melos release). Both versions are fine works but I like the Akarma cover better. Only three tracks for a very short running time, but this version is augmented by two bonus tracks from another period.

The opening track is impressive but shamelessly rips-off some classic composers, but a real effort is made to adapt the material to rock music, sometimes sounding like ELP with VDGG's Jackson blowing a mean sax and Tull's Anderson on flute. There are some glorious epic moments on this impressive 12 min opening track. The second track is definitely more in line with more authentic Italian prog not far away from PFM's best efforts with another David Jackson sax solo! The 15 min multi-suite track that follows is clearly the highlight musically speaking but has some very noticeable flaws in the recording that ruin it a bit. I do not know if the Melos version has the same flaws, but if it does, no wonder this album never got its release back then! Because behind that major flaw is a real fantastic track that would be a real gem, should the sound be. acceptable. Around the 11 min mark (and the start of the fourth movement of the suite) the sounds gets better as if the jazzy improvs were better engraved on the tape.

As for the two bonus tracks sound out of context with the rest of the album, but nothing shocking especially for the first that features a strong progressive connotation in it , but the second one stands out like a sore thumb! Mixed feelings for what could've been a masterpiece had this been better recording quality! Definitely worth acquiring if you are an Italian prog aficionado!