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DIES IRAE (FORMULA 3)

Formula 3

Rock Progressivo Italiano


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Formula 3 Dies Irae (Formula 3) album cover
2.96 | 49 ratings | 8 reviews | 0% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Studio Album, released in 1970

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Dies irae (7:39)
2. Non è Francesca (3:37)
3. Perché. Perché ti amo (6:07)
4. Questo folle sentimento (introduzione) (1:05)
5. Questo folle sentimento (seconda parte) (2:19)
6. Walk Away Renee (4:30)
7. Se non è amore cos'è (5:11)
8. Sole giallo, sole nero (7:10)

Total Time: 37:40

Line-up / Musicians

- Tony Cicco / drums, percussion, vocals
- Gabriele Lorenzi / keyborads, bass, vocals
- Alberto Radius / guitars, bass, vocals

Releases information

Numero Uno (ZSLN 55010)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to ProgLucky for the last updates
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FORMULA 3 Dies Irae (Formula 3) ratings distribution


2.96
(49 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(0%)
0%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(21%)
21%
Good, but non-essential (52%)
52%
Collectors/fans only (19%)
19%
Poor. Only for completionists (8%)
8%

FORMULA 3 Dies Irae (Formula 3) reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by loserboy
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 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...!

Review by andrea
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars Formula 3 were formed in Milan in 1969 with a line up featuring Tony Cicco (drums, percussion, vocals), Gabriele Lorenzi (keyboards, vocals) and Alberto Radius (guitars, vocals), three skilled musicians and appreciated session men. "Dies irae", their debut album, was released in 1970 on the Numero Uno label, produced by Lucio Battisti. The overall sound draws on psychedelic and post beat influences and the songwriting is mainly in charge of the band's mentors, Lucio Battisti for the music and Mogol for the lyrics. The psychedelic atmospheres of the album are in some way depicted by the colourful art cover...

The opener, "Dies irae", is a public domain song with a religious subject elaborated and re-shaped by band. Wild organ rides, electric guitar riffs in debt with Jimi Hendrix and spoken words in Latin in the background build up a quasi apocalyptical atmosphere... In my opinion, it's a good piece that blends psychedelic-rock with Gregorian chant and it's my favourite piece from this band. Unfortunately, the other tracks are not at the same level...

"Non è Francesca" (It's not Francesca) is a cover of a best known Lucio Battisti's song that tells of a man who sees his girlfriend passing by along the street with another man and can't believe to his eyes. Here the song is re-arranged with a strong Latin rock flavour that every now and again could recall Santana, but I prefer by far the original Battisti's version...

"Perché... Perché ti amo" (Because... Because I love you) is a melodic song veined of psychedelic touches signed by Mogol and Edoardo Bennato, a declaration of love for a charming woman. Black or white, the protagonist loves her passionately... Is that woman just a metaphor for the music?

"Questo folle sentimento" (This crazy feeling) is a carefree pop rock song about a man falling in love at first sight with a girl amidst colourful lights and psychedelic sounds. This piece was commercially successful as a single and here is strangely divided into two parts, probably just because of the length of the original vinyl edition. The first part is just a short instrumental introduction that ends the first side of the LP while the second part opens the second side of the album with the vocal part...

"Walk Away Renee" is sung in English and is a cover of a love song signed by Michael Brown, Bob Calilli, and Tony Sansone, recorded in 1966 by American baroque pop band The Left Banke and already covered in 1967 by The Four Tops. This version features a darker mood and a good instrumental middle section with organ and guitar in the forefront...

"Se non è amore cos'è" (If it's not love, what is it?) is a melodic, cheesy song signed by Elio Isola, Mogol and Sandro Colombini with a slow pace and romantic, consolatory lyrics telling of a young man under a starry sky who tries to stop the tears dropping from the clear eyes of his sweetheart...

"Sole giallo, sole nero" (Yellow sun, black sun) is a weak, silly love song signed Mogol-Battisti mixing simple Italian melody and psychedelic trips. In the long instrumental coda there's room for a nice drum solo and some experimental solutions but, in my opinion, the result is not convincing at all...

On the whole, an interesting album that marks the passage from the sixties to the seventies on the Italian music scene but that is not essential for prog lovers...

Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 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.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Considering this was released in 1970 this is an impressive album. It's too bad the mood and style of the opening track wasn't sustained throughout though. FORMULA 3 were a trio out of Italy. The guitarist went on to form IL VOLO.

"Dies Irae" is dark as the drums beat slowly. The guitar then organ join in. An amazing sound here. This is quite intense. Vocals 3 minutes in. They will come and go. Big finish. "Non E Francesca" kicks in quickly with a catchy beat. Vocals before a minute as raw guitar plays over top. Organ comes in later. Vocals come in after a minute on "Perche...Perche Ti Amo". The organ, drums and guitar are prominant. They contrast the quiet and loud passages throughout.

"Questo Folle Sentimento (Intro)" kicks in right away. I like when it settles. It blends into "Questo Folle Sentimento" where it builds with vocals and organ followed by guitar. "Walk Away Renee" is a song I remember as a kid. FORMULA 3 cover it pretty well with English vocals. I like the chorus because it brings back memories. "Se Non E Amore Cos'e" kicks in with organ, drums and guitar. It settles. Fragile vocals after 1 1/2 minutes with floating organ. "Sole Gialio,Sole Nero" is fairly uptempo with organ. It settles when the vocals arrive. It picks back up.This is a fun track. Lots of organ before 5 minutes. Drums take over a minute later.

I can't give it 4 stars but I feel it deserves respect considering the year and how well done it is. 3.5 stars.

Latest members reviews

2 stars Being a motorsport fan, this band caught my attention some years ago. It has taken me until this week to get to know this album, though. This is the debut album from this band who has gone on to release some albums. This is also a pretty spicy album somewhere between Psychedelic/Space Rock, H ... (read more)

Report this review (#304947) | Posted by toroddfuglesteg | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | Review Permanlink

3 stars 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

4 stars 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

3 stars 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 1, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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