IL CERCHIO D'ORO

Don't mistake my low rating for a slight against this fine RPI band. This is a very good band but it took time for that to become clear in a recording. Like many Italian acts, Cerchio never got to make a proper album in the 1970s. This Mellow Records archival release collects what they did record, a few of their singles and a hodgepodge of other unreleased items and put it out years later. Often this formula is successful for Mellow and they have literally rescued some classic material from the dustbin of history. This is not one of those success stories. This is a completely unnecessary purchase for everyone save perhaps the relatives of the band members. Years later Il Cerchio would reform and I urge you to seek out their fine latest release from 2008, an outstanding prog concept album.

As for this self-titled disaster, I could almost go 2 stars (for fans) but for one fact: the two best tracks on the album were tacked on to the end of the 2008 album as bonus tracks! That completely implodes any reason for purchasing this album which I can safely rate now as "for completionists only." Aside from the two respectable singles that you can get on the 2008 album, you'll find here a pair of experimental noise collages, a pair of disco flavored pop tracks, and a few decent stabs at prog-balladry and heavy symphonic. And these are the fair ones, though still completely unessential. The remaining 5 or so tracks are a blend of somewhat proggy hard rock that will make you feel like you are listening to a bad bar band, from the 4th floor apartment three floors above the bar. The sound quality of these tracks is atrocious and there is simply no reason you need to hear them. There is no point in going into more detail on these tracks. The bottom line is that you'll want to skip this album and proceed to the glorious Il Cerchio comeback album of 2008, titled "Il Viaggio di Colombo." That album shows off the talent, prog songwriting ability, and true beauty these musicians are capable of.