While relaxing in the land of my ancestors, I happened upon a band that has been in the prog garden for quite some time, though I must somewhat ashamedly admit I had not heard their music until recently. Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) opened for Yes in Milan 1971 and has enjoyed worldwide acclaim since. Thankfully InsideOut Music offered me the opportunity to review the newest release from the band, "Emotional Tattoos," an offer I jumped at because...well, because this is why I occupy the Concert Closet in the first place.
"Emotional Tattoos" has an expected release date of October 27th--this Friday for those sans calendar-- and there are multiple packages available, including the 2CD set with the second disc being the Italian version. Personally I prefer the Italian translation so as to be able to delve deeper into the emotions and feelings of the artist. Of course you can whet your appetite right here in the Concert Closet as I prepare the buffet table and apply the headphones in anticipation of a most intense review...please to enjoy...
I open this celebration with a cut called "We're Not an Island." A fitting title; the song opens as though you are lounging at the seashore during low tide...cerebral, relaxing, and washing over my auditory canals like velvet earmuffs. The keyboards open gentle enough as vocals with just enough grit to catch your attention filter through. Top notes of Marillion and a touch of Wishbone Ash seem to carry across the room as the momentum picks up. The guitars mesh with violin strings beautifully as the drums hold steadfast throughout. As the song starts to fade I am reminded of an inner peace that comes when the raucousness dies down...and the candle still burns...
Moving further along the disc I discover another song that sails delicately across the inner lining of the mind, "There's a Fire In Me." PFM fills the canvas with lighter colors--not necessarily pastels, but nothing ominous and threatening; although there is nothing to fear, you're not being coaxed to sleep either. I sense a Transatlantic vibe in the headphones...like a hot air balloon testing the grounding tether, it pulls enough to grab your attention yet you know you're safely on terra firma...
Liner Notes...although the core of the band started playing together in the late 1960's, Premiata Forneria Marconi originated in Milan in 1970 so they're not exactly new comers to the prog garden. Covering music from King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and even early Chicago, the band continued to grow and expand their sound. Winning several awards on the Italian prog scene, PFM took to the worldwide stage, making their first mark on the Billboard chart in 1973. Move through several line-up changes, being "discovered" by Greg Lake of ELP fame while touring Japan, collaborating with Peter Sinfield, and the myriad of baggage that comes with being a band, and here we are in 2017 anticipating the release of "Emotional Tattoos."
The current line-up for PFM is Franz Di Cioccio on lead vocals and drums, Alessandro Scaglione on keyboards, Hammond, and Moog, Marco Sfogli on guitars, Patrick Djivas on bass, Alberto Bravin on keyboards and backing vocals, Lucio Fabbri on violin, and Roberto Gualdi on drums. Two drummers one of whom also sings...hmmm...where I have I seen something similar?
PFM has walked the width and breadth of the prog garden, releasing albums in the experimental and classical sections as well as keeping that one proverbial foot in the Italian prog scene. This album takes PFM back to its roots as they travel the melodic, ornate, guitar driven, jazzy road that winds through the entire prog garden. PFM may be a lot of things, but predictable and complacent are not two of them.
Take a journey through time and discover for yourself all that Premiata Forneria Marconi has to offer. You can pre-order "Emotional Tattoos" as well as look deeper into the PFM catalog at
PFM World. Follwo the band on Facebook PFM Facebook and Twitter @pfmufficiale where you will find tour and music info as well as specifcs about the band.
Tapping into one more song here, I find myself getting lost in "It's My Road." An example of what I spoke of earlier, this one cuts deeper when played in Italian. An upbeat tune, the keyboards take center stage along with those semi-gritty vocals. PFM truly does travel back in time with this album as the canvas seems covered with Peter Marx art and a mellow mood that washes over like the smell of fresh linen drying on the line in a cool spring breeze. Scents of lilac and open fields are as real as the jazz piano bouncing around inside my head...
For your listening pleasure this week I chose the cut "Central District." This gives you a fairly good perspective of the style PFM has burned into this disc. The vocals come through a bit stronger as the keyboards and drums unite to surround the entire piece in rugged lace. Violins get their say as well, complementing the guitars throughout but taking center stage just enough to command attention. PFM has intensified their own top notes here; the new is reminiscent of the old...you can go home again...
...and once again the time has wound down. The search for all things prog continues on, and thanks to PFM that search has now been widened to include those bands that have been here a while yet somehow eluded the masses. I for one appreciate the gates opening wider, allowing me to find such a graceful album. Until next time...
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