Label: Cuneiform

Tracks:

1. Convultus. 7:18
2. Rhinoceros. 8:19
3. Uomo del Futuro Passato. 8:42
4. Olim Sol Rogavit Terram I. 5:04
5. Il Pensiero che Porta alle Cose Importanti. 7:28
6. Luce. 6:19
7. De Ordinis Ratione. 6:55
8. Olim Sol Rogavit Terram II. 8:10

Musicians:

• Alessandro Porreca. bass
• Claudio Trotta. drums
• Bonez Buonetti. violins
• Fabrizio Puglisi. Electronic keyboards
• Magrino Collina. guitars
• Luigi Savino. Bass on Luce, editing
• Fabio Cocchi. violin
• Nicola il rosso. viola
• Enrico Guerzoni. cello
• Alberto Piras. vocals

Fifth album of one of the ultimate bands of 90's Italian progressive, this time in new label, the prestigious Cuneiform Records.

Fans who just look for sensitivity, simplicity and smoothness, they better bet for another type of bands, because Deus Ex-Machina always has been the opposite. Torment, virtuosity, power, dynamism, complexity and constant rhythm changes. Definitively one of the most anarchic bands in prog-rock history.

Deus Ex Machina performs a high voltage original mixture of jazz-rock fusion and prog-rock, where stays witness of their virtuous members instrumental quality, and where Alberto Piras's spectacular voice, close to Francesco di Giaccomo's one, stands out. Alberto again, sings most of the tracks in Latin.

In the beginning, it's difficult to enter the music of the group, very complex and virtuous, and also it's hard to be accustomed to Alberto Piras' voice, which stands out even over the noisy music. But really after several hearings, you only can notice that these guys are masters, and the group would not be the same without Piras' vocals.

The band's influences might come from Area, Osanna, Il Baletto di Bronzo, Van der Graaf Generator and Mahavishnu Orchestra, at least, under my point of view. Though we cannot relate clearly Deus Ex Machina to any band either, they have their own style.

In this fifth album, as good as the previous ones, the band evolves towards a quieter and softer rhythm than in the earlier records, with much less virtuosity and craziness. Definitely more relax, but still continues being a enough dynamical work in many moments. Due to that, this is maybe the album to start listening the group. Here, Deus Ex Machina approaches a bit more to fusion, and even it reminds me to Gentle Giant in some few moments.

My favorite tracks would be "Uomo del Futuro Passato", "Il Pensiero che Porta alle Cosa Importanti" which is, maybe, the most vandergraaf-esque track. The acoustic instrumental "Luce" dominated by Jean-Luc Ponty kind violin. "De Ordinis Ratione" nearer to the previous albums. And the more relaxing "Olim Sol Rogavit Terram II" dominated by magnificent cellos and violins. But all the tracks are prominent enough.

Definitively, another great recording of this essential band.

Rating: 8.5/10

Ferran Lizana