IVORY — Sad Cypress (1979-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

As underrated as the Neuschwanstein album is overrated. Both bands seemed to be going for the same thing, but I think Ivory were a lot more successful at it. They have a lush, dense dual-keyboard sound (the only prog band I know of led by a father-son duo of keyboardists) and a charming singer. As the band¡¯s leader was a sexagenarian ex-classical musician, some of this is awfully pompous: the title track based on a Shakespeare sonnet and ¡°In Hora Ultima¡± featuring some vocals in Latin. That aside, this is prime symphonic rock, some of the best from Germany actually. The four bonus tracks on the CD (with a mechanistic all-keyboard sound) are a little on the superfluous side, but the main album is definitely first-rate!
Basic symphonic progressive Genesis influenced band. The music is quite good but why, just why does the singer sing in English ? Especially when he pronounces the letter 'w' as a 'v'. Imagine ! This is simply awful. I just can't get over it. The only good tracks are the instrumentals and "In Hora Ultima" where the lyrics are latin ! The last two tracks are bonus and not as interesting. progarchives.com
Tracklist :
1.. At This Very Moment (3:57)
Written-By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
2. In Hora Ultima (7:12)
Vocals [Latin] – Antonio Ognissanti
Written-By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
3. Sad Cypress (8:34)
Lyrics By – William Shakespeare
Written-By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
4. Time Traveller (4:15)
Written-By – Thomas Sommerlatte
5. My Brother (13:52)
Written-By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
6. The Great Tower (9:44)
Written-By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
7. Incantation (4:42)
Lyrics By [Adapted From A Normandy Crucifix] – Ulrich Sommerlatte
Music By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
8. Construction N° 2 (2:29)
– BONUS TRACK –
9. Barbara (13:45)
Written-By – Ulrich Sommerlatte
Line-up / Musicians
- Ulrich Sommerlatte / Keyboards
- Thomas Sommerlatte / Keyboards
- Christian Mayer / Lead Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
- Goddie Daum / Acoustic & Electric Guitars
- Charly Stechl / Bass, Flute
- Fredrik Rittmüller / Drums
Guest Musician:
- Antonio Ognissanti / Latin Vocals

ANDY NARELL — Slow Motion (1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

More often than not, the steel pans are used for playing the traditional sounds of Trinidad. Andy Narell has successfully utilized them in a variety of non-traditional ways. On the ambitious and highly eclectic fusion release Slow Motion, elements of everything from Afro-Cuban salsa to Brazilian samba to African music are fair game for the adventurous, even visionary improviser (who is also heard on electric keyboards). Sometimes cerebral and sometimes romantic -- sometimes intense and sometimes reflective -- Slow Motion is one CD that cannot be accused of predictability. For those exploring Narell's music for the first time, this album would be an excellent starting point. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
 1. Two Tone Shoes 6:14
 Andy Narell
2. Natty Stick 8:26
 Andy Narell
3. Slow Motion 4:40
 Andy Narell
4. Street Dancin' 3:37
 Kenneth Nash
5. Another Drum For Oskar 7:32
 Andy Narell
6. Trapeze 3:31
 Andy Narell
7. Once A Dancer 4:39
 Ray Obiedo
8. A Sea Change 6:16
 Andy Narell
Credits :
Congas, Bongos, Percussion, Vocals – Kenneth Nash
Drums – William Kennedy
Guitar – Steve Erquiaga
Mixed By – Andy Narell, Steven Miller
Steel Drums, Keyboards – Andy Narell
Synthesizer – Frank Martin
Vocals – John Thomas

PROCESSION — Fiaba (1974-1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Here's an interesting italian prog band from the seventies named Procession. As many of their colleagues of that time, they only managed to release a couple of albums and then disappeared. With their second work titled Fiaba they're generally considered to have composed and performed their best effort with the help of certain guests as Ettore Vigo of DELIRIUM on mellotron, Silvana Aliotta, ex lead singer of the then dissolved CIRCUS 2000 who provides a fabulous vocals on the last part of "C'Era una Volta" (Once Upon a Time, 8,10 mns) that reminds me of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, a little bit and also something from the band UNO by ex Osanna leader Elio D'Anna. Other guests are Francesco Froggio Francisca (RRR) on percussions

As I said, Procession has lot in common with Delirium, musically. They're an example of that eclectic traditional sound of Rock Progressivo Italiano as also Delirium were. With some delicate jazzy phrasing all along the six compositions they also sound a la RACCOMANDATA RICEVUTA di RITORNO (for the sparse jazzy parts and for the vocals). Well, this is the point, I think. Not a keyboards' based band, this time, despite some good mellotron's soundscapes thanks to Ettore Vigo who also brought this instrument to a high level of quality when released with Delirium their last studio album. It's not a case it was 1974 also.

On about Procession we will say that they sound pleasant within acoustic guitar and flute wisely alternating compelling tenor saxes interludes and fine electric guitar' solos through the most delicate parts to the most "aggressive" ones. Great drums and bass' lines, let's say.

All in all, this is a very convincing work and it's certainly one of the most overlooked italian prog gems from the classic years. Highly recommended. Andrea Cortese
Tracklist :
1    Uomini Di Vento    3:57
2    Un Mondo Sprecato 4:40
Performer – Franco Fernandez  
3    C'Era Una Volta 8:10
Performer – Ettore Vigo, Silvana Aliotta
4    Notturno    8:08
5    Il Volo Della Paura    4:53
6    Fiaba 5:26
 Performer – Franco Fernandez
Credits :
Bass – Paolo D'Angelo
Guest, Percussion – Francesco Froggio Francica
Guitar – Roby Munciguerra
Lyrics By [Testi] – Marina Comin
Music By, Arranged By – Procession
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Maurizio Gianotti
Voice – Gianfranco Gaza

BOOMERANG — Boomerang (1971-2015) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Boomerang's eponymous 1971 debut also proved to be their last (though a shelved second album remains stashed away somewhere), and its surprisingly stripped-down and unfettered blues-rock approach will probably surprise those familiar with vocalist/organist Mark Stein's earlier work with psychedelic overlords Vanilla Fudge. Clearly inspired by the white-knuckled intensity of Led Zeppelin's first two albums, economic hard rockers like "Juke It," "Cynthia Fever," and "The Peddler" attempted to deliver the same thrilling brand of sheer power masking barely reigned-in virtuosity. Like every other six-stringer of the day, guitar wunderkind Ricky Ramirez (press clippings claimed he was 15 at the time of this recording) was thrust into the role of guitar hero whether he liked it or not; and, despite falling well short of achieving headline status (witness his nonexistent post-Boomerang career), he handled himself convincingly enough throughout, even contributing a nifty backward solo to "Hard Times." As for the band's true frontman and centerpiece, Mark Stein, tunes like the bluesy ballad "Fisherman" and the aforementioned "Juke It" reveal just how much future Deep Purple singer David Coverdale borrowed from his bluesy style. Not to beat a dead horse, but, also like Purple's Coverdale-fronted Mark III lineup, Boomerang offered frequent vocal sparing matches between Stein and bassist Jo Casmir. The duo trades vocal licks with particularly successful results on the extremely funky "Mockingbird," and the entire group's ability to mesh with lush string arrangements on the almost Allman Brothers-like "Brother's Comin' Home" serves as a final reminder of Boomerang's restrained versatility and unfulfilled promise. That fact notwithstanding, all of the above help make this self-titled release an obscure delight for enthusiasts of early-'70s hard rock. Eduardo Rivadavia 
Tracklist :
1 Juke It 4:55
 James Galluzi / Rick Ramirez / Mark Stein
2 Fisherman 3:36
 Mark Stein
3 Hard Times 4:10
 James Galluzi / Rick Ramirez / Mark Stein
4 Mockingbird 4:01
 Charlie Foxx / Inez Foxx
5 Cynthia Fever 3:44
 Lenny Brennan / James Galluzi / Rick Ramirez / Mark Stein
6 Brother's Comin' Home 4:44
 James Galluzi / Rick Ramirez / Mark Stein
7 The Peddler 5:18
 Lenny Brennan / James Galluzi / Rick Ramirez / Mark Stein
– BONUS TRACKS –
8 Montreal Jail 3:01
 James Galluzi / Rick Ramirez / Mark Stein
Credits :
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Jo Casmir
Drums, Percussion – James Galluzi
Organ, Piano, Vocals – Mark Stein
Guitar [Lead, Rythm, Acoustic] – Richard Rameriz

JEANIE BRYSON — Some Cats Know -Sings Songs of Peggy Lee (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This is a very logical tribute. Jeanie Bryson has a small but coolly sensual voice, just as Peggy Lee did during her prime. Bryson performs three songs on which Lee wrote the lyrics (including "I Don't Know Enough About You" and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'"), ten other songs that have been associated with Lee (such as "Some Cats Know," "Why Don't You Do Right" and the inevitable "Fever"), and a number ("Where in the World Are You") penned by Jeanie's mother Connie Bryson. The singer is supported by an intriguing group that includes a four-piece rhythm section with guitarist John Chiodini and pianist Terry Trotter, tenor saxophonist Red Holloway, Paquito D'Rivera (sticking to clarinet), and trumpeter Ronnie Buttacavoli. This is one of Jeanie Bryson's best efforts and should please both her fans and those of Peggy Lee.  Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 I Don't Know Enough About You 4:33
 Dave Barbour / Peggy Lee
2 'Deed I Do 3:01
 Walter Hirsch / Fred Rose
3 Some Cats Know 5:57
 Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
4 Why Don't You Do Right? 3:43
 Kansas Joe McCoy
5 You're My Thrill 4:58
 Sidney Clare / Jay Gorney
6 Fever 3:42
 Eddie Cooley / John Davenport
7 I'm In Love Again 4:02
 Cy Coleman / Peggy Lee / Bill Schluger
8 Close Your Eyes 3:02
 Bernice Petkere
9 Lover 3:16
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
10 You Let My Love Get Cold 5:20
 Jessie Mae Robinson
11 I'm Gonna Go Fishin' 3:08
 Duke Ellington / Peggy Lee
12 You're Blase 4:42
 Ord Hamilton / Bruce Sievier
13 That Sugar Baby O' Mine 3:49
 Sidney Mitchell / Maceo Pinkard
14 Where In the World Are You? 5:24
 Connie Bryson
Credits :
Bass – Jim Hughart
Clarinet – Paquito D'Rivera
Drums – Harold Jones
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – John Chiodini
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Ronnie Buttacavoli
Percussion – Mayra Casales
Piano – Terry Trotter
Tenor Saxophone – Red Holloway
Vocals – Jeanie Bryson