I bought this a couple of years after it came out, but to be honest it didn't make much of a mark on initial impact. Not really sure what troubled me, though it could have been "too much of the same thing" - at the same time! I was OD'ing pretty hard on newer Italian prog in the 2010s and I think I was reaching saturation point. A long break has helped me to hear these albums with a completely different perspective.
Il Pozzo dei Giganti doesn't have much in common with the original Cherry Five album. That debut is really the anomaly in the Italian prog sphere, with its lyrics in English and a sound similar to Yes, Genesis, and Gentle Giant. Their sophomore effort (40 years on mind you) is more like traditional prog from Italy sung properly in the native language, with plenty of vintage keyboards. The rhythms are from the stop-start school. Only the new guitarist brings a modern touch, though not unwelcome at all. This new incarnation features the non-Goblin members, and three new recruits. Ten years later, it's clear this was to be a one-off reunion. A very good one though, and worthy of collection status.
Ownership: 2015 Black Widow (CD). Lyric booklet with photos, artwork, and recording details.
10/28/17 (first listen); 1/9/25 (review)
Cherry Five are an anomaly for the Italian progressive rock scene, in that they sing in English and have a sound that is squarely from the big names of the scene like Yes, Genesis, and Gentle Giant. In this way, they recall Mass Media Stars era Acqua Fragile, though Cherry Five are significantly more heavy and complex. Formed by the main two protagonists of Goblin with participation of drummer Carlo Bordini from Rusticelli & Bordini. So if you can blank your mind of images of Museo Rosenbach and Il Balletto di Bronzo, and pretend Cherry Five are from London, then this is quite a good mid 70s progressive rock album. All the vintage keyboard toys are on display and there's plenty of complex compositions to dive into. A really great album.
Ownership: 1986 Nexus (LP); 1993 King (CD)
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