PICCHIO DAL POZZO

Plenty of Italian bands adopted symphonic prog-influenced sounds in the 1970s, others took on a major dose of jazz fusion, and some took their sound in an avant/RIO direction, but Picchio dal Pozzo might be the only one I'm aware of which launched themselves into the Canterbury sound so thoroughly - and with such obvious skill to it. With vocal performances reminiscent, in part, of a cross between Robert Wyatt and Jon Anderson, and excellent keyboard work by Aldo De Scalzi, the album more than earns a place amongst the great releases of the late 1970s Canterbury scene. I wouldn't prioritise it above National Health, who I consider the kings of the Canterbury style in this half of the decade, but it's certainly on a par with the output of Bruford and others operating in the Canterbury style around this time.