Claudio Delgift (self-titled) - review by DPRP.net

 Claudio Delgift — Claudio Delgift

Country of Origin: Argentina

Year of Release: 2020

Time: 35:41

Info: https://www.facebook.com/ClaudioDelgift

Bandcamp: https://claudiodelgift.bandcamp.com

Flying Sparks And Alien Warriors (5:27), Drifting (5:48), By The Fireside (4:04), An End In Sight? (4:53), Desmond (3:07), The Wheel Still Spins (6:18), About To Break Loose (1:46), Unleashed (4:11)

Claudio Delgift is an Argentinian composer and multi-instrumentalist, first coming into DPRP's view with The Essential Delgift, a compilation album which placed entertaining jazz-rock-fusion compositions amongst soothing, easy progressive songs. He's also known from his involvement with the progressive rock band LIGHT, who thus far have offered two fine albums, Light and The Miracle Of Life.

This self-titled album, his ninth, is a departure from these progressive roots and soars back into his delightful instrumental world of rock-fusion and solid guitar rock, incorporating folk and slight experimentation.

The music convincingly shows Delgift's growth as a composer of entertaining fusion songs. Each is bound by precise conciseness and profits superbly from his biggest asset, his mastery on guitar. Forcefully rocking or carefully treading within the confinements of his well thought-out songs, he weaves entertaining instrumentals that sparkle with catchy melodies and alluring instrumentation. Some of this he contributes himself (bass, keyboards and percussion), while drums are supplied by various very competent musicians from around the globe.

His versatile style of playing changes with(in) each song, embracing rockier paths reminiscent to Steve Morse/Dixie Dregs in tracks like Flying Sparks And Alien Warriors and An End In Sight, or gliding into subtlety with a delicate Rush-like feel in By The Fireside, where his acoustic noodling breathes refinement.

The flow of the album, placing a groovy piece like Drifting or the ambient sparkling Desmond in between the jazz fusion songs, works like a charm and gives the album a welcoming appeal.

An enjoyable listen and a worthy addition to Delgift's discography, with the benefit of having a superior production in comparison to some of his earlier work.

Jan Buddenberg (https://www.dprp.net)