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Rating:
LA RECENSIONE
When reviewing a prog album, one must be very careful because this genre, together with jazz, represents the peak of expressiveness for a musician.
The album I'm about to review now is not only beautiful but also important for many reasons, which I will now list for you:
1 - It is the first in a series that has become a cult in the history of Italian music.
2 - It marks the beginning of Ivano Fossati's career.
3 - It is one of the most classic and best-selling progressive albums in Italian music.
4 - It is a comprehensive mix of various genres played divinely: folk, classical, jazz fusion, psychedelia, and rock.
5 - It is in the full prog era (1971).
6 - The vocal parts are superb (listen to the intense lyrics of "Johnnie Sayre").
7 - Beautiful flute and quite a heavy Hammond organ. The first time I listened to it, I got lost in the impressive piano and drum passages and the great flute that explores various rays of emotions.
"Dolce Acqua" in its nine tracks touches on various melodic aspects; one could say that it spans many concepts of love, color, and poetry. For me, it is an honor to describe it since it is a monumental work in all its facets (stuff with guts!): the opening track "Preludio (Paura)" is a nostalgic piece with two voices (this is true auteur music!), the second and third tracks "Movimento I (Egoismo)" and "Movimento II (Dubbio)" are masterpieces that, when heard, lay you down in the most intimate thoughts, "To Satchmo, Bird and Other Unforgettable Friends (Dolore)" is a worthy tribute to the greats of jazz, "Sequenza I e II (Ipocrisia - Verità)" and "Johnnie Sayre (Il perdono)" can bring a tear to the most nostalgic listeners. The entire suite concludes with 2 perpetual and spiritual tracks that the most demanding cannot forget due to their fame and beauty: "Dolce Acqua (Speranza)", which gives the album its title, and "Jesahel".
I would conclude with my opinion, which I wouldn't consider modest, but five stars might be too few given the importance this work holds for all great rock enthusiasts. A relic!
You never get tired of listening to it, this is music that, unfortunately, is no longer made. It's a pity that the CD is hard to find and the vinyl nearly impossible to come by (priceless).
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Summary by Bot
Delirium’s Dolce Acqua is a landmark progressive rock album from 1971, marking Ivano Fossati’s debut and blending folk, jazz, and psychedelia. The album is praised for its emotional lyrics, outstanding vocal performance, and masterful musicianship featuring flute, Hammond organ, piano, and drums. It remains a cult classic in Italian music, cherished by prog rock enthusiasts despite its rarity today.Tracklist Videos
Delirium
Delirium are a Genoese progressive rock band that debuted with Dolce acqua (1971). Early on, singer/flautist Ivano Fossati fronted the group and they scored broad recognition with the Sanremo 1972 hit Jesahel. Classic albums include Lo scemo e il villaggio (1972) and III: Viaggio negli arcipelaghi del tempo (1974). After disbanding in the mid-’70s, they reformed, issuing Il nome del vento (2009) and L’era della menzogna (2015) via Black Widow Records. Key members cited in reviews include Ettore Vigo and Martin Grice.08 Reviews
Other reviews
By MaGonk
"All that will remain of us is just a great bonfire..."
"Dolce Acqua is one of the best prog albums ever made in Italy, an essential listen for any fan of the genre."
By claudio ruffini
Given the success of my reviews, I’m including by "request" this LP by Delirium by Ivano Fossati as well.
Put it on the turntable and enjoy listening.
