CAGE

4(-), because even I have to agree that these songs are sometimes weak.

In between these efforts 6 less original ones reside though. By no means weak efforts, with one exception they are actually both pleasant and fascinating, but exploring a stylistic expression that will be highly familiar for many prog fans: Vintage inspired symphonic prog. And in this case highly resembling the more atmospheric material produced by Genesis in the mid 70's. Jazz-tinged bass and at times jazz-tinged piano patterns does add some original touches to these ventures, but the similarities to Genesis are strong.

Personally I find this effort to be pretty charming though, the tunes well made and well performed - with Time to Go Back Home the noteable exception in my personal opinion. One to check out for fans of 70's symphonic prog in general and Genesis in particular.

Musea label has shot an wonderful arrow named CAGE from Italy. They started off in Carrara in 1987 and played lots of gigs, released some singles and an album. In 2004 they entered into a contract with Musea and this Secret Passage is their second album in Musea. Musea says this album as a superb work and it should make sense for me.

From Movements, the first track CAGE's wonderful story starts. Full of complexity and mystery, and full of kindness are in the song. Yes, it hears like flying over the rainbow or walking on the clouds for me. The Scream has a melancholic rock flavour voice sound. Chorus with some effect is like a dreamy drama and very impressive. I consider this song can put a high point on the first half. Get relaxed a bit. Bitter Honey is, for us, not bitter but sweet and leisurely. All instrumentals can sound easygoing, and can make me quiet...in spite of their progressiveness. Good sound...Marta's guitar solo. Simple refrain can take us into their cage. :-P Secret Passage is the second highlight on another half with beautiful piano solo and complex guitar and rhythm section. Although it's an instrumental track without any voice, aggressively it should talk to us...like a cute girl. Augusto's lyrical voice can be striking in the song Dreams Like Broken Glass. Feel the song be very fragile and very brilliant... Various faces (rhythmical, funky, strict and plaintive) are in Time To Go Back Home. We all be back to our CAGE with the fine song. At the last live track M31, we can fully hear their strong and strict play. Oh, my God...forgotten breathing.

Let me say the phrase; CAGE is KALEIDOSCOPE from Italy.

"Again Autumn" is an instrumental and one of my favourites. We get to hear the heavenly piano playing right away before synths and drums build to a full sound. The guitar joins in and it sounds really good. There is a nice contrast between the mellower piano passages and the more bombastic sections that follow. The frequency of this increases towards the end of the song. If is the most GENESIS-like track on here in my opinion, and it's on this song that we hear vocals for the first time. Some blistering guitar before 3 minutes with an impressive section to follow of different sounds coming and going quickly.

"The Feeble Minded Man" is that 21 minute epic i was talking about earlier. And as much as they offer up twists and turns and shifts in tempo like you would expect on such a long track, this one doesn't hold my attention at all. Sure it has it's moments but i would have prefered more interesting shorter songs. "The Chapter" opens with a fairly heavy 1 1/2 minute intro before it settles down with drums, bass and guitar. The tempo picks up and the piano leads the way. Vocals 4 1/2 minutes in. Guitar and some good drumming before piano ends it. "Riding The Deep" is another instrumental. It is fairly mellow for the first 2 minutes before a full sound with drums and synths lead the way. Nice sound.The contrast continues. "Thinkin' All" ranks right up there with the opening track for me. Vocals and piano get things started but it's the guitar that soars a minute in that I really like as the drums pound away. Synths follow.

Good but not essential by any means. An enjoyable listen though.