DIES IRAE (FORMULA 3)

• Eppur mi son scordato di te Formula 3, 1971

Go out and get this album immediately... "do not pass go..do not collect $200,00"..FORMULA 3 were one of Italy's first and most popular psychedelic prog rock band of its time. "Dies Irae" their first album is greatly overshadowed by their later releases (which were also very good), but let me say that you must start with this album. This band was stacked with talent with Alberto Radius (guitars, vocals) who would later form "Il Volo", Lucio Battisti (keyboards)... Battisti was then (and still is) one of the biggest pop stars in Italy, a singer/composer whose success was founded on his long-time collaboration with lyricist simply named Mogol with drums by Toni Cicco. Musically these guys are somewhere in the DEEP PURPLE school with heavy emphasis on guitar and keyboard interplay. In the end they combined to write and record perhaps my favourite Italian Psych rock album of all time. This album also includes one rockin version of "The Four Tops" classic "Walk Away Renee" which bleed with deep tones keyboards and HENDRIX-like guitar psychy freakouts. Can't say enough about this album... unbelievable stuff...!

Send comments to loserboy (BETA) | Report this review (#18953) | Review Permalink
Posted Saturday, March 20, 2004

This is the first album of Formula 3 and it's produced by Lucio Battisti. The first track is "Dies irae", a public domain song elaborated by Formula 3: it's a great opener blending psychedelic-rock with Gregorian chant and it's my favourite song of this band. The other song anyway are not at the same level. "Non è Francesca" is a cover of Lucio Battisti but I prefer by far the original Battisti's version. There are other songs written by Mogol-Battisti ("Questo folle sentimento" and "Sole giallo, sole nero", not their best songs.), other two originals ("Perché... perché ti amo" and "Se non è amore cos'è") and the cover of a song previously recorded by The Left Banke and The Four Tops, "Walk Away Renée". In the whole that's nothing special: though well played, it's just a psychedelic-rock album and the quality of the song-writing in my opinion is not high.

Send comments to andrea (BETA) | Report this review (#67082) | Review Permalink
Posted Friday, January 27, 2006

Dies Irae is a hard-psychedelic rock album, giving hints on what Formula 3 would do later in the highly praised Sognando I Risognando and La Grande Casa. The music in the album is varied, ranging from a basic psychedelic pop to a great psychedelic rock with progressive leanings, like the eponymous song, which is the best example of prog in this album, with a superb instrumental intro, and great heavy guitars and bombastic organ. Perche... Perche Ti Amo is a fine psychedelic pop song with some minor variations and changes. Questo Folle Sentimento is a nice psychedelic song, but the album has an unnecesary Questo Folle Sentimento (intro). Walk Away Renee is a nice version of a not so strong song, because of the instrumental improvisations in the intro and in the solo. The other songs are nice psychedelic pop or hard rock songs, all decent but none of them as good as the eponymous song or Questo Folle Sentimento, unless you love drum solos, because the last song has a drum solo.

Overall the album is very good, but not among the best of the band and not much progressive too and psychedelic rock fans will enjoy it more. As a start and considering the year it was released, it is fine, but if you are interested in the prog albums by Formula 3, it is better try Sognand I Risognando and La Grande Casa.

Send comments to akin (BETA) | Report this review (#154113) | Review Permalink
Posted Tuesday, December 04, 2007

The opening and title track is a superb piece of heavy and dark psychedelia. The combination with some choirs during the second part of this great song is also a very interesting aspect and add some fine originality as well. But it will be difficult for the band to keep this high quality level throughout the whole of this debut album.

If you like heavy and pumping Hammond organ, the finale of ''Dies Irae'' will please you an awful lot. This is truly a great piece of music.

The other songs are a mix between a couple of short pieces with little interest, some more pop-oriented tracks (''Non è Francesca'') and some fine psychedelic mood, with a typical late sixties sound ('' Se Non è Amore Cos'è'').

This album is quite different of what the Italian genre is offering, but it is also one of the first of its kind (Italian prog I mean). It is of historical importance for the genre but most of the progheads might have some difficulties to enter into such work. If ever you are nostalgic of the early days of psychedelia, or heavy prog (''Sole Giallo Sole Nero'') this is an interesting album, though.

Three stars.

Send comments to ZowieZiggy (BETA) | Report this review (#215219) | Review Permalink
Posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009

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. ... (read more)

Report this review (#238643) | Posted by Prog_Veteran | Friday, September 11, 2009 | Review Permanlink

My review is produced using this release: BMG Ariola Numero 1 ND 74271 Rating:9/10 One of my firsts (and preferred) CD that I have bought. Alberto Radius, one of the more appreciated Italian Guitarplayerwas also one of the much members of I Quelli (then PFM). The Formula 3 was the Lucio Bat ... (read more)

Report this review (#126912) | Posted by Mandrakeroot | Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | Review Permanlink

The first work released in 1970 "Dies Irae". The content is psychedelic rock. It is an acid and a wild performance. Really however, I feel the pop sense that seems to be Italy. The instrumental part is devised. It is a content that psychedelically expressed traditional romanticism. It is a mas ... (read more)

Report this review (#64794) | Posted by braindamage | Sunday, January 15, 2006 | Review Permanlink

Formula 3 had very different approach to music, even in this album. They were the band that supported Battisti, and here Mogol was their inspirator. Thus, even if a good level of phantasy is present, their main characteristic are quite easy to remember pieces. In any case, differently from Batt ... (read more)

Report this review (#38159) | Posted by NIC* | Friday, July 01, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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