DIES IRAE (FORMULA 3)

3.75 really! First look to the year: 1970! "Dies Irae" is an incredible record, principally if you look to British year 1970 scene (please, see my Caravan "if I could..." review). Most Italian huge prog movement began after 1971. So this and THE TRIP are one of the first avantgarde italian efforts.

"Dies Irae" is around proto prog with heavy Hammond organ and guitars. Don't be fooled, it sounds its own as Mediterranean melodic brings fresh winds. The song parts are pure Italian gentle and beauty. References can go to Atomic Rooster "death walks behind you", ARZACHEL or the injustice unknown German MURPHY BLEND "first loss" (1970); and your usual Italian highly expressive prog.

This album comes with uplifting , energetic and beautiful mood. It has some psychedelic atmosphere used with wisdom as it's balanced with structured (written not experimenting) lines and melodic songs (by Mogol and Battisti). According to "The return of Italian Pop" book: "the group idea was to transfer long suites of avant-garde music into shorter selections without falling into the trap of low quality light music then existing".

By the way, the 1st Camel record is from 1972 and the first Kansas record is from 1974, so don't forget to look to the record date release before saying it's primitive. If you want blow away mature FORMULA 3 go to my favorite "SOGNANDO E RISOGNANDO" (1972) with its eternal classics "sognando e risognando" and "aeternum" this track was recorded in Rio de Janeiro for my highest proud according to the referred book ( and the album was released here too with different cover in early 70's)!