III (VIAGGIO NEGLI ARCIPELAGHI DEL TEMPO)

Their forgotten gem!

Delirium III, also known as "Viaggio negli Arcipelaghi del Tempo" (Journey through the Archipelagos of Time), is their magnus opus, their masterpiece. I know many people say that only their debut album reached the masterpiece status. In my humble opinion they're wrong. I agree that "Dolce Acqua" was released very soon, in 1971, and is one of the first progressive albums in the italian prog scene. It is also true that leader- singer-songwriter Ivano Fossati is very famous in Italy and that his distinctive vocals were the Delirium's trademark on their first record. After his quick departure (he left after the release of Dolce Acqua) the band moved into their most fertile period. Their (excellent) debut album was very folk based, with acoustic guitar and flute, with remarkable jazzy influence. It cannot be forgotten, though, the commercial vein of Ivano Fossati. Paradoxally their most famous track from that album (their most famous track ever) is "Jesahel". Does this song is representative of the Delirium catalogue? No it isn't. Jesahel brought them great success and gave them wider audience. It's not prog at all, though!

So, after Ivano Fossati left the band, they started to concentrate more in prog and the improvement is well evident in their second record titled "Lo Scemo e il Villaggio" (The Fool and the Village), issued in 1972. But it's only wih their third 1974's work that they thouched the apex! What a great album! More varied and complicated. Without frills. New characters and instruments enter in the songs' structure along with flute and acoustic guitars: mellotron and sax. The result is an original and wonderful work. If you wish to find some comparisons you should go for an original mix between early King Crimson and Jethro Tull, with some references to Van Der Graaf, sometimes, and some jazzy flashes! Also two or three (great) appearences of violin.

The general mood of the album goes from dark and serious (it is a concept album, after all) to more relaxing and soft tunes, as for example, the beautiful (and the most favourite of mine) "Dio del Silenzio" (God of Silence, 2,59 mns).

The mix between flute and strong sax came out very well, as you can hear in the most memorable tracks: "Viaggio negli Arcipelaghi..." (4,38), "Fuga n. 1" (6,42) and the somptuous "La Battaglia degli Eterni Piani" (The Battle of the Eternal Plans, 6,42 mns). I think also the rough and deep vocals are better that those of the first album. Somehow in a similar vein of those you can listen in the Rustichelli e Bordini's Opera Prima.

In conclusion, a mastepiece. Essential for people who want to know the non-symphonic italian prog.

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