PHOTOS OF GHOSTS

After churning out the first two albums, the "Premiata Forneria Marconi" starts to conquer America, and therefore a third Lp, "Photos of Ghosts", can be packaged, with the lyrics of Pete Sinfield, King Crimson's freak lyricist, and sung in English by the members of the group, especially from guitarist Franco Mussida.

Sinfield's texts have the advantage of not being the simple translation of the originals in Italian. The record contains all five songs of "Per un Amico (For a friend)", the most prog album of the group, and the most rock and festive song of the debut album, "E' Festa". To these songs is added an unpublished piece, instrumental, by Flavio Premoli, with a very relaxed atmosphere, jazz, thanks to the always precious sounds of Pagani's violin and flute. It is a very experimental piece for the PFM, which has never been so close to free jazz and constitutes the main point of interest on the album. (Rating 8).

Despite the skill of the composers, and the attention for singing in English, this Lp in my opinion does not represent the best of their music, both because they preferred the songs of "Per un amico" to those of "Storia di un Minuto", and because the integration of the various pieces and the singing in English lose something of the original artistic inspiration.

The album remains good, but not excellent. Rating 8, three and a half stars.