STORIA DI UN MINUTO

Premiata Forneri Marconi are quintessential to the Italian prog scene and their album "Storia Di Un Minuto", translated as "Story a Minute Long", is among their best compositions, and this was their debut. Every track on the album is refreshingly innovative and simply excellent music for headphones.

The band are virtuosos consisting of Franz Di Cioccio on drums, Moog, aggeggi, and vocals, Franco Mussida on electric & acoustic guitar, dodici, 12 string guitar, mandoloncello, Mauro Pagani on flute, ottavino, violin, Giorgio Piazza on bass and Flavio Premoli on organ, pianoforte, Mellotron, clavicembalo, piano a puntine, and Moog.

'Impressioni di Settembre' is a definitive highlight, with a soaring keyboard melody driving it, along with 'E' Festa', the Italian original of the 'Celebration' single. The Italian version is certainly as dynamic and energetic as the remake, and of course the music is upbeat and has a sense of fun. It is one of the best tracks for PFM and most well-known, appearing on their compilations in some form.

'Dove... Quando... (Parte I) and (Parte II)' are excellent PFM tracks. Parte I slows the pace down considerably with gorgeous flute and 12 string guitar. Cioccio's vocals are delightful and it has a lulling melody exuding beauty and memorable instrumental pieces. Parte II begins with a medieval sound with organ and violin. It breaks into Premoli's piano played fortissimo and joined by wild percussion. Pagani's violin is sumptuous and some of the best music on the album is found in this passage. The dreamscape is fractured by a fast tempo of jazz infused rhythms and flute.

After the lengthy instrumentals Italian vocals return immediately on 'La Carrozza di Hans'. There are more lush sounds of flute and ambient keyboards. The vocals are gentle and multi layered with a high falsetto range. The acoustics are well played with extraordinary finger picking prowess and soon the drums crash in to add a very strong rhythm along with beautiful violin. There are odd time changes and some inspirational melodies, showcasing the tight musicianship ranging from intricate passages to lush gentle nuances.

'Grazie Davvero' closes the album with a guitar picking motif that is so close to Pink Floyd's 'Brain Damage' that it is astonishing. The music changes to majestic blasts of brass and the vocals intensify. This caps off an essential PFM album and it earns extra credit for being a debut.

Of course the band went onto become the darlings of Rock Progressive Italiano but here is an excellent place to start, right from the beginning. The albums to follow would continue the mark of excellence and PFM would maintain a consistent influence in the 70s prog rock scene.

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