LO SCEMO E IL VILLAGGIO

After their debut album "Dolce acqua" and some commercial singles ("Jesahel", "Haum" and "Treno" - in my opinion weak, but very successful), the singer and flutist Ivano Fossati left the band and Martin Grice took his place in the line up. The band turned back to prog and released "Lo scemo e il villaggio" (The fool and the village), their second album, a kind of "concept" about "foolishness and reason", where the fool is someone that always finds a way to tell the truth. In this album you can't find the spontaneity and freshness of Delirium's debut album. The concept is a little bit foggy and lyrics are not particularly inspired but the music is quite good and the band blend folk, jazz and prog rock with good results.

The opener "Villaggio" is an excellent instrumental with a remarkable piano and flute work and a joyful and complex rhythm. Sometimes it reminds me of Le Orme, Jethro Tull and ELP. Many influences blended together in a personal way... This is also my favourite track on this album.

"Tremori antichi" is an amazing acoustic dreamy ballad. "Under the fog of ancient shudders / The clash of the swords awoke me / Like a child I begun to shout / And someone shouted at me that I was mad." The singing of Mimmo De Martino is not bad, but I miss a little bit the peculiar voice of Ivano Fossati.

"Gioia, disordine, risentimento" is a complex piece where the band try to blend tarantella, prog and avant-garde: though interesting it is not completely convincing and in my opinion this is the weakest track on this album

"La mia pazzia" is a joyful track that reminds me of the hit single and best known Delirium's song "Jesahel". "Don't look me in the eyes / My madness won't be silent."

The beautiful and dreamy "Sogno" is an instrumental that reminds of "Dolce acqua" on their previous album, with a touch of jazzy sax and piano in the middle section. Quite good if not outstanding.

"Dimensione uomo" is a slow ballad with vocals floating upon acoustic rhythm guitar and keyboards. "Don't ask anything / If you don't want a refusal.": not bad at all.

"Culto Disarmonico" is another good instrumental with sax and drums leading the music towards jazzy paths.

The final track "Pensiero per un abbandono" is quiet and symphonic. "Perhaps it's true / I'm mad / I've just understood / That I can't remember a single act of sweetness / Coming from the hands of people."

In the whole, "Lo scemo e il villaggio" is not a masterpiece but in my opinion it could be an excellent addition to any Italian prog collection.