JET LAG

It's a classic album. The first time I got this album was in the form of tape at the time of release. Am fortunate that at the end, after having been chasing many years, I got the re-mastered edition CD in a digipak format with an excellent sonic quality, last year. This album is one of the finest that the band has ever produced. The music is a blend of jazz, rock and some classical music touch. It opens with an instrumental track, acoustic guitar based, with a stunning style. It reminds me to Genesis' "Horizon" before "Supper's Ready". This track is longer - it consumes 2:35 minutes. Very nice opening.

The title track "Jet Lag" is opened with a powerful vocal line backed with keyboard sound. The music flows excellently with a heavy influence of jazz. The instruments that contribute to the music are blend nicely to form an excellent composition. The instruments that are noticeable are combination of guitar fills, keyboard and violins. Also important to notice is the changing beat of drumming, it's cool. This track offers shifting tempos as well. I think, this track is masterpiece. The way keyboard /organ is played reminds me to GENTLE GIANT style even though I'm not claiming that PFM is heavily influenced by GG. The interlude with keyboard solo is wonderful.

"Storia in "la" " is opened with a solo keyboard and some cymbal's sound. The melody and nuance of this intro remind me to GONG music (Shamal album), especially the woodwind instrument used in this opening. It's an instrumental track with relatively slow tempo, stunning violin and guitar. Next track, "Breakin in" continues with similar vein of melody, but this time with a vocal line. The tempo is slightly much more upbeat than its predecessor. You will find interesting blend of violin and percussion in this track. The tempo is relatively stable with minimum high-low range.

"Cerco la lingua" has a relatively long violin intro. I find the intro is too long as it is almost played as solo. But when the music flows, I find the bass guitar is played wonderfully. The other interesting part is the "banjo"-like guitar play and violin. "Left-handed Theory" is a track that has a long intro part as instrumental; guitar sound dominate the track. The lead guitar work is excellent. There are some violin work as well to accentuate the composition in early part and solo during interlude.

I consider this album is good. Even though musicianship is excellent and relatively complex composition in some segments, however there are some monotonous part especially in its tagline music background. A good example is at last track "traveler"; the first part is too long and little variations of melody. Yes, at later part the tempo is changing but it does not help the overall track. To enjoy this album, you need to be in the right mood. I think. Rating 3.5 / 5. - Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.