THE WORLD BECAME THE WORLD

ELP's Manticore label prodigies from Italy came up with the goods big time with this album. I have learned in retrospect that it is largely an English language version of tracks previously released by the band in their native Italian, but this is the version I heard first, and with which I am therefore far more familiar.

The opening track, "The Mountain" is powerful Italian prog, complete with English language lyrics sung with a strong, at times phonetic, Italian accent. After a soft, deceptive choral vocal intro, the track bursts into a heavy dirge, awash with keyboards.

The following two tracks are superb, and for me, the best PFM have recorded. "Just look away" has echoes of King Crimson's "I talk to the wind". It is a beautifully soft track, with atmospheric Pete Sinfield lyrics, and a haunting flute solo to finish. "The world become the world" starts with a segue continuing the soft atmosphere of the previous track, before exploding into a loud keyboards drenched chorus. Once again, there are echoes of King Crimson's "Court of the Crimson King" album, "Epitaph" in particular. The soaring synthesisers after the refrain of the song title are wonderful, and at the time of the album's release were quite unique.

Side two reverts to more orthodox (if there is such a thing!) Italian prog. "Four holes in the ground" has an infectious theme, while "Is my face on straight" ends with a one note chant of simple rhyming phrases. The final track, "Have your cake and beat it" is a jazz influenced instrumental piece.

A very good album by a band who unfortunately peaked here, their subsequent output offering nothing coming close to the two standout tracks on this album.

The original LP sleeve had a cut out centre, which allowed a reversible display of opposing images (before and after the bomb) on either side of the inner sleeve to show through.

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