STORIA DI UN MINUTO

1975 was a great year for me: just entering my 18th, becoming officially an adult (according to Brazilian laws), getting my driver's license, being able to go to wherever I wanted, starting the University, etc. I'm quite sure that it was also in 1975 that I realized that the music I'd listened to for a couple of years until then was named progressive. It was the year I met PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI.

I believe that the 2 first PFM's albums were released in Brazil in the previous year although I wasn't aware, but when I got into them a new world flourished for me. Then, progressive was not an exclusivity of English-speaking bands and the Italian language fitted very well for the genre: some mediaeval spelling mixed with the tongue's modern sweetness gave a special flavor to the genre. Hearing "Storia Di Un Minuto" was and still is a great experience - a fantastic one when I remember my first time.

We didn't know at the time but now we know clearly that PFM line-up was outstanding: Mussida is a great guitar player, many times overlooked when compared with other guitarists; Di Cioccio, a splendid drummer furtherly to become a successful and charismatic front man; Pagani and Premoli, both skilful and talented and the forgotten Piazza, a fair bass player - his later replacement by Djivas added even more quality to the band. This gathering of craftsmanship helped to bring Italian prog to a deserved front row and to place PFM among the most expressive actors in the prog scene.

The general production is fair specially if one considers this to be the first band album (in fact, PFM existed previously with a different name). For some reason, even do not knowing the album content there's a feeling that we are facing a great work - more or less as we feel with King Crimson's first output. Opening track, properly named 'Introduzione' starts in a lazy manner only to give room to a powerful final section that acts like a really overture for the following songs.

'Impressioni di Settembre' is now a classic prog song and not only in Italy; the way the theme is developed bears the characteristic which shall be a kind of PFM's trademark: a slow and peaceful beginning followed by a grandiloquent and majestic core. Voice, guitars and keyboards work together to convey the listener to an astral voyage, a pastoral-like progressive symphony; all spiced by continuous drops of soft flute and heavy drumming.

'È festa' shows PFM's rock face in a grand mood. I'd prefer to hear this track as the album finisher (or at least, a reprise) - just like they generally do when in concert. The song is really a feast, a delightful banquet, irrigated by magnificent instrument playing.

'Dove. Quando. (parte I)' has doubtlessly one of the most beautiful and progressive intros I had the opportunity to listen to; amazing and astonishing. The song itself is a tasty ballad dominated by flute and acoustic guitars. The singing in Italian adds an extra charm to this bucolic and gorgeous theme.

'Dove. Quando. (parte II)' is really a different song, sharing with previous and homonymous track some chords and the general theme. During 6 precious minutes the hearer is carried through diverse natures: jazz, classical, a bit rock and folk - all instrumental. The result is superb.

'La carrozza di Hans', another classic, is the great overall progressive moment of the album. Everything works in a great level but the guitar solo, the tempo changes, the hard passages, the fusion contribute largely for the song grandiosity, giving it epic contours.

'Grazie davvero', the finishing track, is also the most Italian-style song - PFM should never forget their roots: the peninsular smell is pleasantly omnipresent. Grazie, PREMIATA.

Some could say, and I agree partially, that PFM was influenced by other progressive bands, specifically those from Britain, however this album is unique since it shaped not only band's particular style but also helped greatly to give the final weaving to what we presently call Italian prog; consequently, a MASTERPIECE. Final rating: 5.