CHOCOLATE KINGS

Had I never heard of PFM and happened to stumble upon this album first, I would have thought, "Oh! Here's a very good Genesis imitator!" The employment of Bernardo Lanzetti for the English lead vocals duties was pretty ingenious considering his amazing Trespass-era Peter Gabriel voice similarities. I understand (and forgive) the band for abandoning their native tongue as its use had, perhaps, supplied an impediment to their non-Italian album sales.

1. "From Under" (7:31) Hearing this for the first time--without knowing who or what I was listening to--I'd be thinking, "When did Peter Gabriel get together with Keith Emerson, Steve Howe, Lenny White, Jerry Goodman, and John Entwistle?" (14/15)

2. "Harlequin" (7:50) is all Genesis, with some "Knife"-like sounds and motifs--especially in the heavily-effected vocals of Bernardo Lanzetti. There's even a little JTULL-ishness in the final couple minutes. (15/15)

3. The high-powered "Chocolate Kings" (4:41) feels like a cross between a GENTLE GIANT and STRAWBS or even THIN LIZZY song (despite the use of violin and other more folk-oriented instruments). Not my favorite. (8.5/10)

4. "On the Roundabout" (7:56) a delicate opening allows the listener to really get a taste for the GENTLE GIANT-like instrumental prowess of the band members. The equally delicate vocals run between The Strawbs' DAVE COUSINS And Nursery Cryme-era Peter Gabriel. The instrumental passages definitely breathe more Gentle Giant (or Spirogyra/Dixie Dregs) than with the second half of the fifth minute being particularly spectacular for the instrumental displays. These guys could certainly go toe-to-toe with countrymates CERVELLO or AREA as well as the Mahavishnu Orchestra. (14.5/15)

5. "Paper Charms" (8:34) though a little less cohesive of a song than some of the previous masterpieces, this is a mulit-faceted song that definitely continues to put on display the virtuosity of these musicians. Wow! (18.75/20)

Though I'd never heard of PFM before I joined ProgArchives in 2008, I quickly fell in love with Per un amico and L'Isola di niente but resisted trying this album out (despite its high ratings) because I had read from several reviewers that this album was nothing more than the Anglicized version of Per un amico. Now I know that THIS IS NOT TRUE. This music and album are unique phenomena in their own right.

A/five stars; a certifiable masterpiece of progressive rock music with musicianship and composition of the highest possible quality. Definitely an essential addition to any self-professed "prog lover"s music collection.