Search - Pfm :: Per Un Amico (24bt) (Mlps)

Perfectly Fabulous Masterwork

Debbie A. Rider | Oil City, PA. USA | 05/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THIS IS BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT!

Stunning progressive music as it's meant to be played; with passion, talent and confidence. The classic line up of Premiata Forneria Marconi (Di Cioccio, Mussida, Pagani, Piazza and Premoli) set the gold standard with "Per un Amico". Flavio Premoli's contribution as a composer alongside Franco Mussida and Mauro Pagani is very much in evidence in this beautiful work. This is a timeless, magnificent and haunting musical presentation from start to finish, wonderfully lush with all the best elements of prog rock: mellotron, Moog, flute, violin, harp(!), guitars acoustic and electric, and varied percussion. Vocals sung in Italian only add further charm to this dreamily melodious package. Even the cover artwork does well at defining the pure magic awaiting within. This is exactly what music should sound like: complex yet simply gorgeous. Mandatory listening for admirers of early Genesis(for song structure and melody), Gentle Giant(for instrumental virtuosity), and Jethro Tull(Ian Anderson wasn't the only one who knew how to rock the flute). Early Crimson is gloom, doom and difficult when pitted against the warmth and dexterity of PFM's music of roughly the same era: a case of the students outshining the teachers. "Per un Amico" is highly recommended. It is a real wow!"