Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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The DVD consists of three sections of which the one presenting DEM’s live performance at Le Triton is definitely of greater significance than the other two. The concert features seven numbers: six songs that nominally cover the band’s last decade of activity (two compositions each from their latest three albums: 1998’s “Equilibrismo Da Insofferenza”, 2002’s “Cinque” and “Imparis”) plus one ‘new’ instrumental, Drum Solo, which is in fact a kind of drummer Trotta’s personal take on the full version of Cosmopolitismo Centimetropolitano, though it can also come across as a long as well as fairly singular intro to that piece. The picture is excellent; the sound is crisp, allowing the listener to hear all instruments clearly. But it’s the band’s concert itself that, so to speak, crowns all those qualities, and is the most impressive impromptu live performance I have watched in years. The musicians stretch out from the outset, and only Cor Mio (which is properly played in the middle of the set) gives the listener the opportunity to take a breath before re-diving into what can easily be viewed as both deep and turbulent musical waters. On stage, this song is delivered in a somewhat softer manner and – at least in some ways – it sounds like a benefit performance for Alberto Piras who just works wonders with his voice here, appearing as a totally unique, one-of-a-kind singer, no matter that he is not the first to, generally speaking, impart a strong operatic sense into rock music. (While I can partly agree with those who compare him with Demetrio Stratos, the ones who assert that he sings not unlike Damian Wilson make me laugh, as also do – indeed ridiculous – conclusions about the similarity between DEM and Genesis). The band’s older creations, particularly those that are unavailable on the CD, Rhinoceros, Dove Non Puo Errserci Contraddizione and Il Pensiero Che Porta Alle Cose Important, while being compositionally similar to La Diversita di Avere Un'Anima, are noticeably heavier in sound, so the concept of Prog-Metal from time to time comes to mind when I listen to these. Only one of the two items that form the “Interviews” segment is really an interview: the band does it in Italian, but it’s accompanied with English subtitles. Then follows Fabrizio Plays: a solo piano piece which finds the keyboardist doing variations on Giallo Oro. The “Extras” include: Paris backstage, a set of excerpts: from Manresa (Spain, 2002), from Chapel Hill (USA, 1996) and from Italian TV (1996), and Ad Montem, a video clip shot in 1993. All in all, the DVD is an excellent or rather essential addition to the CD.

Conclusion. “Imparis” portrays its creators as one of those few genuinely inventive and inspired modern groups that revive the classic spirit of international Progressive Rock and which, instead of borrowing wholesale from their ancestors, as most neo bands do, use only some of their ideas, doing so in such an at once careful and resourceful way that the end result is simply fascinating, proving that our beloved music is still alive. Without such releases as this one (Top-20-2008), in these days of clowns, clones and wannabes we, true connoisseurs of the genre, would more and more often feel like we’re fishing in a bog.

~ progressor.net

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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Deus Ex Machina - Imparis (2008)

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