Il Cerchio d'Oro: Dedalo e Icaro

Il Cerchio d'Oro are one of those oddities the Progressive Rock scene often throws up – a near four decade old band releasing only their second album just five years after their debut (this album seeing the light of day in 2013). A collection of singles from this unashamedly Italian sounding Progressive Rock act from, you guessed it, Italy, did appear back in the seventies and a pair of compilations many years back herded these releases together for a curious and underserved fan base. However it was 2008 that saw the first album proper from ICD, Viaggio De Colombo, revealing a band of some substance. Something Dedalo e Icaro confirms with room to spare.

I often enjoy non-English language albums, so when I tell you that the lengthy instrumental songs and sections on this disc are its strongest, don't take that to mean that the Italian lyrics put me off, for that isn't the case. Instead it is some reasonably dull vocals which make the introductory "Il Mio Nome E'Dedalo" a little harder going than its music deserves. Something corrected immediately by follow up track "Labirinto", where flute combines with gloriously lush keyboards to wonderful effect, as the guitars suddenly lend, alongside some excitable bass playing, a more Jazzy flavour which works a treat. The glorious harmonies at the start of "La Promessa" suddenly reveal a group vocal talent that individual efforts lack, before a patient mix of acoustic strumming, electric guitar soloing, busy but uncluttered drumming and eclectically genre hopping keys offer a varied nine minute journey; although again the vocals are a little bit of a sticking point.

The authenticity of the ageless, but far from modern flavours offered up through the likes of "Oggi Volero" and the Jazz infused "Il Sogno Spezzato" hit home with style time and again across the whole album, especially when given a longer length in which to weave their spell, as three of the eight tracks here do. Although it's not as if the shorter excursions lack character or focus, just maybe the time to reveal as many meandering sides as possibly expected.

Patience is obviously a virtue of this vintage act finally getting their music out there and the same ethos pays off for the listener too, with the depth and skill displayed throughout making an ever stronger impact through time and familiarity. Unsurprisingly, given the recent quantity and quality of their releases, the label behind this album is Italian Prog specialists Black Widow; if you enjoy Progressive music from that country and you haven't checked them out, you really are missing a trick. You can add Il Cerchio D'oro to the likes of Ingranggi Della Valle and Antonius Rex, amongst others, as Black Widow bands you really should check out.

Track Listing
1. Il Mio Nome È Dedalo
2. Labirinto
3. La Promessa
4. L'arma Vincente
5. Una Nuova Realtà
6. Oggi Volerò
7. Il Sogno Spezzato
8. Ora Che Son Qui (Icaro La Fine)

Added: June 22nd 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Black Widow Records
Hits: 1837
Language: english

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