PHOTOS OF GHOSTS

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)

Rock Progressivo Italiano

4.03 | 622 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

This was PFM's first English language release. It's made up mostly of songs from their previous two classic albums plus an instrumental ("Old Rain") that's new.

"River Of Live" opens with intricate acoustic guitar as flute, harpsichord and organ join in. A full sound 1 1/2 minutes in as drums arrive. A calm with vocals 2 minutes in. The soundscape 3 minutes in is beyond beautiful, and beyond words. Themes are repeated. "Celebration" is uptempo and joyful as the title would suggest. Prominant drums and synths before the flute and vocals arrive. A calm 2 minutes in. Piano and flute a minute later before the tempo picks back up. "Photos Of Ghosts" opens with flute and piano. Vocals before a minute. Violin before 3 minutes as the tempo picks up. Strummed guitar as drums pound. "Old Rain" is the previously unreleased instrumental. There isn't much of a melody early as violin and drums do their thing. This is mellow stuff. Flute before 2 1/2 minutes.

"Il Banchetto" brings such an inner joy to me it's hard to express. Sort of like the first track really. These guys are the masters of creating emotional music. Interesting section before 3 minutes as it becomes spacey and then it turns classical. A piano interlude is followed by the returning organ 7 1/2 minutes in. "Mr.9 'Til 5" features an impressive instrumental display and then the vocals come in. A change after 2 minutes. Church organ before 3 minutes as earlier themes return. "Promenade The Puzzle" has these reserved vocals and piano melodies as other delicate sounds join in. It kicks into gear 2 minutes in with vocal melodies. Fantastic section 3 minutes in. The tempo continues to shift. It turns pastoral 5 minutes in and then it starts to build.

For me this is well worth 4 stars, English vocals and all. Too much beauty and class to pass this one up.

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 | 2008-9-8

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