L'ISOLA DI NIENTE

PFM made a very quick trajectory regarding their first three albums. In their debut, there was a very organic, minimally rehearsed feel, and by their third album, L'isola di niente, the pendulum has swung to carefully crafted and arranged pieces. On Per un Amico, they probably got the balance just right, but here I get the sense that so much is crammed into such a short space, and with such rapid shifts between segments, that it's just a bit too busy, and most of the dreamy, often pastoral, feel of their previous albums has been written out. It's certainly a tough line to walk.

Of course, there are plenty of great melodies, and more importantly, wonderful playing and musicianship to be found, and these features can be found on each of the 5 pieces. The title track has yet to take ahold of me, as the shifts between the choral bits and the rock bits are too jarring and don't seem to supplement each other. Is My Face on Straight and Via Lumiere also have these qualities, with some good tunes and very hyperactive playing in spots, but these quality pieces don't seem to fit together into coherent songs.

La Luna is probably my favorite of the album, with a happy little 5/4 ditty that gradually builds into a full cacophony of PFM power, with a great sound from the flute/synth/violin combo, and finishing with an absolutely crazy riff. Still not the most cohesive song, but moreso than the rest.

In short, PFM pull out all the prog stops but in so doing lose a bit of their unique charm. It's of course still worth having, but it lacks the impact--at least for me--of their first two albums.