Record Reviews

DEUS EX MACHINA ~ IMPARIS CUNEIFORM 259/260 (Barcode: 045775025926) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2008 6th album by the excellent Italian group Deus Ex MachinaFind albums by this artist recorded and filmed (as it comes with an accompanying DVD) at the Paris club "Le Triton", famous for its association with Prog, RIO and Jazz. The club has a recording studio on the premises, which enables recording both studio and live material in high quality. The group, fronted by the incredible singer Alberto PirasFind albums by this artist, whose voice is of truly operatic quality, plays a strange mixture of Jazz-Rock Fusion, RIO and Avant-Garde, completely unique and amazing. The lyrics are both in Italian and Latin (they were all Latin on their previous album "CinqueFind albums with this title") and were written by Piras; the music was all composed by guitarist Maurino CollinaFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Fabrizio PuglisiFind albums by this artist. The DVD includes a complete live concert filmed at the club as well as other bonus material like interviews with the band members and earlier video clips going back to the early days of the group in the 1990s. Altogether this is an impressive package containing both studio and live material and concert footage – a great document of a great group. A must for RIO and Fusion enthusiasts alike and considering the success of their previous album, very little encouragement is needed to make people go for this one.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD+DVD 2 Recommend To A Friend

DFA ~ KALEIDOSCOPE MOONJUNE 010 (Barcode: 692287901028) ~ ITALY ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1995 - 1999 Released: 2007 Long awaited reissue of the first 2 albums by the great Italian Prog group DFAFind albums by this artist (Duty Free Area) – "Lavori In CorsoFind albums with this title" from 1995 and "Duty Free AreaFind albums with this title" from 1999, now remastered and with bonus tracks. DFA´s appearance at the 2000 Nearfest festival (as captured on the "Work In ProgressFind albums with this title" album) brought the group the much deserved international recognition, but fans had to wait for another 8 years for their new album entitled simply "4thFind albums with this title". DFA are a quartet with Silvio MinellaFind albums by this artist on guitars, Alberto BonomiFind albums by this artist on keyboards and flute, Luca BaldassariFind albums by this artist on bass and Alberto De GrandisFind albums by this artist on drums and the fact that they all hold regular day jobs to make a living perhaps explains why they take a while to make a new album. Nevertheless they are great musicians and DFA is definitely one of the great discoveries of the 1990s Prog revival. These two albums are among the best to come out in the 1990s, continuing the classic 1970s Prog as if nothing happened in between. Highly melodic, with beautiful tunes and great instrumental performances, this is Symphonic Prog heaven; something every devoted Prog fan will love to play repeatedly. The bonus tracks were recorded live in 2003 and are re-workings of the original tracks appearing on the debut album. The second album features two guest vocalists, one of which is no other than Alberto PirasFind albums by this artist of Deus Ex MachinaFind albums by this artist fame. All together this is a highly recommended package, including some of the best Prog music created in the 1990s and an indispensible piece of Prog history.

Updated: 28/05/2021Posted:

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend