IL NOME DEL VENTO

For my 100th RPI review I thought i'd do it on DELIRIUM who have made an amazing comeback in 2009. They've employed a string quartet and some guest vocalists including Sophya from the band PRESENCE. Lots of variety here and this is first class all the way. Hammond organ, mellotron, moog and Fender Rhodes along with flute and sax and the traditional instruments fill out the sound. Vocals are in Italian of course. The artwork is so well done, as are the pictures in the liner notes.

"Intro (Dio Del Silenzio Reprise)" is as it says, a reprise of a song from their third album from 1974. Cool ! Thunder and rain open the album before vocals, flute and piano take over.The string quartet joins in. "Il Nome Del Vento" opens with the string quartet before sax and a fuller sound arrive. Vocals follow. Female vocals come in a minute after the male vocals. Sax is back as themes are repeated. The guitar before 4 minutes sounds really good. "Verso Il Naufragio" opens with some atmosphere as sax comes and goes. Strings follow then more sax. A change 1 1/2 minutes in as piano takes over. It's brighter sounding a minute later as "Theme One" comes in. I like when it gets heavier and you hear the sound of glass breaking. That "Theme One" returns and then we get some relaxing sax melodies to end it. "L'acquario Delle Stelle" was written by the sax / flute player to celebrate the birth of his first grandson. It opens with the sound of a music box before the flute comes in. Strings before 2 minutes. Almost spoken vocals with piano follow. It all gets fuller with some nice guitar. A pastoral ending to this one. "Luc Lontane" opens with sax, piano and reserved vocals. The vocals get passionate 3 minutes in.

"Profeta Senza Profezie" is an outstanding tune, one of my favs. It's kind of jazzy reminding me of DFA at times. "Ogni Storia" opens with the sound of a baby crying and a music box. Sax and strings a minute in then it gets heavier. Vocals after 2 minutes as it lightens. Female vocals are added then the guitar lights it up. Themes are repeated. Great sound 4 1/2 minutes in. Excellent tune. "Note Di Tempesta" opens with slicing violins followed by sax then piano, drums and bass. It settles with flute after 1 1/2 minutes in as different sounds come and go. I like it. Nice guitar before 2 1/2 minutes. "Dopo Il Vento" is a little haunting early. It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes. Sax and piano lead the way before 3 minutes.The guitar comes in sounding fantastic. Flute and a calm follow. Vocals after 5 minutes. The song continues to change and evolve. This is the longest track at over 9 1/2 minutes. "Cuore Sacro" opens with flute then guitar and organ join in. Great sound. Drums follow suit before a calm with piano follows. Vocals before 3 minutes then it kicks back in to a jazzy mode. It settles again late with piano, flute and vocals.

Not as good as PFM's latest, but this is so well done and worthy of 4 stars.