STATI DI IMMAGINAZIONE

Once in a while, you get a surprise from a classic artist. If it happens once in a year, you are lucky. This year it happened twice. My first one was from Steve Hackett, and I would have been satisfied with that. Then I heard "Stati di Immaginazione." What a gift this is.

Many times classic artists record new music, and seem to be trying to recapture past glories. Other times, they just seem to have lost that certain spark. PFM has avoided both of those maladies. They have created something completely new, and full of life. The other surprise is that it's completely instrumental.

This is a heavily jazz oriented album, almost to the point of fusion. They have even incorporated xylophone. There are some great grooves, and at time the violin resembles Jean-Luc Ponty. However, there is more. Just when you might be beginning to wonder, the keyboard reminds you that this is definitely prog. The guitar riffs out in classic rock style. There are some lovely, ethereal passages. Including an acoustic guitar and flute segment that would make the Hackett brothers proud.

The compositions are all crafted with precision. There is music to get your foot tapping, mellow you out, and touch your heart. This is the type of thing that makes this musical journey all worthwhile.

H.T. Riekels