P.F.M. STORY

As said on the front cover, a (time lined) story of respected Italian 70's progressive band, one of many issued in recent years. CD is centered mostly around their first three and best Italian albums, from which are first eight songs. The good thing is that there are no songs from English versions of albums, cause it was the commercial concession. The songs and melodies are composed to be sung in Italian language, melodic and dramatic by itself, and knowledge about "what they are singing about" are irrelevant, and I'm glad that domestic versions are slightly better rated than foreign, at the moment, because the music speaks in it's own name.

Music on disc has two faces. First face, from 1972-1974 albums, presented in first eight songs, is expected prog from beginning of innocent 70's. A lot of keyboards, mellotron and synthesizers, with violin and flute, all together capable to shift moods from mellow and dreamy to frenetic, and tempo from slow to energetic. A mix of progressiveness and fusion, with specific Italian touch, creatively different from "big brothers". Second face, from 1980-1982 albums, presented in last six songs, are common pale pop-rock that has nothing to do with first face, sounded like from some other band (last song, "Capitani Corragiosi", some kind of "Captain Courage", is unbelievable unimaginative).

To rate a compilation is Sisyphus' job, anyway you rate it, it is under question. Compilations are not band's effort, so rated is the one who made a choice. Considering a compilation as an information about an artist or a band, I personally think that very good information deserves three stars, good two stars, and bad one star only. To make a compilation on "a little from here, a little from there" method is not a good job, so the main impression is a terrible decline that band suffered in 80's (who wasn't). This one had flown high, but had landed low.

I got this album exclusively to check out the track Capitani Coraggiosi, originally released in PFM? PFM!, and if the rest of the album is like this one, no wonder why they have not re- released that in CD format, a very disappointed time for the band.

Going back to this compilation, do not bother...there is another compilation way better than this, if you are trying to check out PFM for the first time.. "Gli Anni Settanta" is probably that one. Remember I am not criticizing any individual track, with the exception of course "Capitani Coraggiosi", but the sole purpose of putting together this bad compilation, and a very poor example of one of the greatest prog bands from the 70'. Please be warned, do not spend your $$ on this one.