Corrado Rustici, the return of Cervello
Cervello were born in Naples in the early 70s, at the height of the music scene Italian progressive rock. Alongside groups such as Osanna, Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, the Cervellos were able to distinguish themselves with a unique voice, capable of blending Mediterranean traditions, passages symphonic and uncompromising experimentation.
Their debut album, “Melos” (1973), remains one of the most precious gems of the Italian prog. Focused on ancient Greek myths, it combined mythological themes with bold instrumental interweavings, acoustic textures and avant-garde solutions. Even though Enthusiastically received by critics, Melos remained her only studio work band, which broke up shortly thereafter.
In the years that followed, “Melos” was rediscovered by generations of enthusiasts all over the world, to the point of becoming a cult record.
Today, after more than fifty years, Cervello return with “Chaire”, produced by Corrado Rustici, out December 5, 2025 for Sony Music exclusively in CD and LP format.
In ancient Greece, the word Chaire was used both to greet and to take leave, meaning “are you well” or “take care of yourself”.
The album is based on songs written between 1974 and 1983, arranged and recorded over the last four years by the surviving original members: Corrado Rustici – guitar, keyboards, vocals; Antonio Spagnolo – bass, acoustic guitar, recorder, vocals; Giulio D’Ambrosio – flute, sax, vocals; Gianluigi Di Franco – lead vocals, cwith the addition of Roberto Porta on drums.
Voice and soul of Cervello, Gianluigi Di Franco passed away in 2005. Thanks to the latest advances in audio restoration, its interpretations, saved from fragile two-track reels and cassettes of the time, they could revived, allowing “Chaire” to exist as an homage and at the same time as a new creation.
Corrado Rustici:
“Over the last fifty years, these songs written by me together with Gianluigi Di Franco, between 1974 and 1982, had remained frozen in time: simple ideas recorded on cassette and on two tracks, destined to become the second album of the Brain. After the dissolution of the group, however, they fell into a state of hibernation which, paradoxically, has preserved their purity intact original. Today, after all our human and musical experience, I know it would never have been possible to recreate the innocence and compositional direction of those times. Once again, the technology opens up new possibilities: what has happened in the last three years has allowed to revive those ideas, with Gianluigi’s voice. For me it’s almost a miracle to hear his voice again, still naively innocent, to give shape to the melodies and give meaning to this publication and these songs. There It took five years to develop these seven songs, and I hope so really that all the fans who have followed us since 1973, all over the world, can enjoy of this music. It’s our thanks for following us and supporting us all these years.”
To celebrate this return, “Chaire” is released together with a document historic: a live recording from 1973, which immortalizes Cervelloin the performance of songs from the debut album and in an unreleased instrumental.
In parallel with this publication, a new one will also be made available remastered edition of “Melos” (1973), edited separately, for ideally complete the band’s artistic journey.
CHAIRE tracklist:
1. Chair – Hello
2. Acherontean Temples
3. The Seduction of Chiaro Ulivo
4. Reina de Roca
5. Movalaide incl. Transfiguration
6. The Dance of the Guardians
7. Chaire – Farewell
LIVE AT POMIGLIANO D’ARCO 1973 tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Song of the Goat
3. Splitting (TRM)
4. Euterpe
5. Melos
6. Remote Progressive
Melos – tracklist
Song of the Goat – 6.40am
Triptych – 7:27
Euterpe – 4:36
Splitting (TRM) – 5:50
Melos – 5:03
Galaxy – 5:55
Fresco – 1:12
