CAGE is the name of an Italian Progressive rock band, led by keyboards player Alessandro BUGLIANI and created in the middle of the Eighties. And whereas "1987-1994", published in the year 2005 by the Musea label, is made up of historical recordings (As its name mentions it), it would be too bad to consider this CD just as an achive collection. This is a brand new album, both coherent and carefully produced. The six pieces alternate vocal and instrumental parts, and are most often structured around subtle piano notes. This is dynamic and lively Progressive rock that"s inspired by the Masters of the Seventies, while remaining very personal and inventive. The five musicians have perfectly assimilated the lessons of EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, GENESIS, IQ, GENTLE GIANT and so on, whilst opting for a very modern approach, as far as the sound and the composition work is concerned. The emotional range is quite wide, from THE FLOWER KINGS" luminous guitar soli to ambiences not unlike a certain VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR. Let"s also notice the excellent twenty-minute suite "The Feebleminded Man", leading the listener through melodic sequences, great melodic inventivity and feverish electric cavalacades. CAGE might well be the best Italian band of their generation together with FINISTERRE. So, this is a worthy discovery ! Here comes the confirmation, with the second effort published on the Musea label, the first real opus by CAGE: "Secret Passage" (2008). After an introductory track showing influences of a light jazz-rock, not unlike KENSO"s, the delicate and refined symphonic Progressive rock comes back to the front. From then on, the music is going to alternate between those two tendencies, for our greatest pleasure. Mostly instrumental, it also leaves space to the vocals, more gabrielish than Peter GABRIEL himself, courtesy of the band"s new singer. The second track "The Scream" might even let you think that you"re listening to a brand new composition by THE WATCH. In fact, the one mistaken with the illustrious Simone ROSSETTI is called Augusto MORELLI. Let"s also note beautiful guitar parts, lyrical to the bone, mixing the styles of Steve HACKETT, Allan HOLDSWORTH or even Pat METHENY. Fulvio MELE seems to be in love with the fretless bass, while keyboards player Alessandro BUGLIANI develops furthermore his own playing, more recognizable and personal, essentially based on crystalline piano notes. Without any doubt the sign of a great talent. Too bad this album is so short... Anyway, here"s a splendid piece of work, not to be missed by any means !