Under the Radar Music: July 2023

July 25, 2023

Il Cerchio d'Oro, Italy

Neo Italian Prog

Latest: Pangea e le Tre Luna (2023)

Dedalo e Icaro (2013)

Despite having a heritage that dates back to 1974, Il Cerchio d'Oro seem to be paying homage to the 90's Italian renaissance rather than the original 70s movement. Odd, given that many of their peers are looking back 20 years further. Il Cerchio d'Oro reminds me of bands such as Malibran, Barrock, and Nuova Era. In my estimation, certainly better than the former two but not quite up to the standard of the latter. The analog instrumentation isn't convincing, the drums are more rock oriented rather than jazz, and Dedalo e Icaro definitely has that bright, digital sound. All the same, there's no doubting that Il Cerchio d'Oro plays in the classic Italian style. The constant thematic shifts within each composition, the lengthy instrumental interludes, and the rough hewn vocals (in Italian of course) all underscore the region's characteristics. There are better albums from Italy being created now, but Il Cerchio d'Oro's sophomore release is no slouch. Conditionally recommended to fans of the style.

---6/26/13

7/21/13 (new entry)

July 8, 2023

Odessa, Italy

Neo Italian prog

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Latest release: L'Alba della Civilta (2022). Didn't realize they were still around!

---UMR notes

Stazione Getsemani (1999)

Yet another one of those forgotten Italian prog albums from the 90s. I dutifully picked most of them up as they were released. Listened. Happy. Filed. 21 years later, here we are again, and I couldn't remember a thing about it. Odessa tapped into that unique strain of songwriting that goes with the Italian progressive rock movement. This is not retro at all - the instrumentation screams the era in which it was released. But the composition style looks backwards 25 years, and that's what makes albums like this endearing. As time goes by, many albums from my collection are finding themselves in the sale pile, and yet these 90s Italian prog albums continue to grow in stature. For certain, I'm predisposed to liking them. Odessa is not where you start your exploration into the Italian prog renaissance. But if you're a fan like me, then it should be on your list to investigate.

5/10/20; 7/8/23 (new entry)