PFM - Impressions of September
The PFM was the band's most famous Italian and progressive ' only to achieve some success in the field internationally, especially in the United States. In the heterogeneous evolution of his musical path, the PFM has combined choruses almost pop, jazz-style improvisations and compositions of classical attitude. In addition, it has added a touch of melodic flavor Mediterranean, which has contributed to its original formula in relation to prog models across the Channel. The first embryo of the future Pfm formed in the sixties, at the height of beat, I do Those, formation of alternating Antonio "Teo" Teocoli Favarol and Pino, both singers and guitarists, drummer Franz Di Cioccio and bassist George " Fico "Piazza. Later, he added keyboardist Flavio Premoli and two other Guitarists: Alberto Radius Mussida and Franco, said "Yogi". Thanks to their continuous live performances, featuring a special treat musical sections, the ones stand out immediately in the Italian beat scene, with the publication of numerous 45s for the recall, for the most part by the Italian versions of songs already made and performed by international artists: "The doll that is no no no" and "The girl ta-ta-ta", both by Michael Polnareff, "To live together," Italian version of "Happy Together" Turtles of, "Back child ", or" Hole In My Shoe "by Traffic, among others, individual examples are" Thoughts "(Nice)," Hip Hip Hip Hurrah "(1910 Fruitgum Co.) "This town without you" (Tremeloes) and "Tears and Rain" (Aphrodite's Child). Noteworthy in this period also important collaborations in the studio with Mina, Celentano, and André De Battisti. The history of the band, however, is now marked by decisive changes: after the passing of Teocoli, destined for a brilliant career as a cabaret / comedy, and Alberto Radius, who arrived in Formula Three in the summer of 1969, the group hires a musician of great depth, with whom there was an immediate understanding: Mauro Pagani. After leaving his band (the Dalton), Pagani, who was playing classical instruments like violin, flute and piccolo, the fundamental formula imparts an impression of the group, helping with Mussida a drastic change of gender. On the beat, in fact, the focus shifts to the progressive array of British, led by bands like King Crimson, Yes and Jethro Tull. Improvisation and take so long suite of short songs instead of the beginning. The ones in the meantime become the Krel and inaugurate a season of hard work, recording sessions of eight consecutive hours. Cioccio to come in even for a few months in the training of Team 84, which is also involved with the Festival of Sanremo. Only at the end of 1970, Franco Mussida, Flavio Premoli, Franz and Giorgio Di Cioccio Piazza officially give life to the Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM), the name of a bakery located near Brescia where our studies were going to do the tests. After several disputes, the four decide to leave the memories, soon getting a contract with the Number One by Lucio Battisti and Mogol and the manager Franco Mamone, gained thanks to its excellent reputation for their technical ability. In 1971, following the PFM, the Italian tour, several influential bands of the period like Yes, Procol Harum, Deep Purple and Black Widow. Inspired by King Crimson, PFM record what would become his great warhorse, "Impressions of September," an evocative ballad with a text written by Mogol and various progressive ideas, marked by the use of moog, an instrument introduced for the first When in Italy recently. The simple arrangements, played by acoustic guitar, delicate outline and engaging atmosphere, especially in the verses and the chorus, however, is more heated, with the help of a memorable arrangement of the synthesizer. The poetry that emerges from the words of Mogol only heightens the epic melody of the song, which is still a timeless Italian rock. "Impressions of September" drag the success story of a minute, PFM's first album, released in early 1972. The seven tracks, all written by the duo Mussida-Pagani, are typically built on progressive structures that are predominantly of classical composition, especially in the second part of the lineup. A progressive baroque, sometimes medieval, and vaguely Genesis of the "Nursery Crime", but compared to the British models, a melodic vein grafts and Mediterranean-style musical influences. Only weak point, singing, suffering from the absence of a genuine "voice", but is adequately supported by rich arrangements, though never too redundant. "Impressions of September" is preceded by a short instrumental piece ("Introduction"), characterized by thin choirs on an acoustic guitar before, and an electric guitar riff all'incalzare battery, then. Among the tracks stands also 'E' Day ", a sort of" tarantella "progressive", which is also marked by a virtuoso moog riffs, but on a hard-rock structure and the variations of time are numerous, with a spontaneous transition from hard rock to classical forms, shaped by acoustic guitars and a delicate flute Pagani. E 'means just that, along with violin, piccolo and harpsichord, to give a strong gust of Classicism to early progressive PFM. The second part of the disc has an even stronger attitude classical, in a continuous succession of different formulas sound. The symphonic "Where ... When ..." is divided into two parts: the first is a tale of extraordinary sweetness sung, introduced by the mellotron of Premoli and seconded by acoustic guitars, flute, harpsichord and mandoloncello, the second takes the same time, first with body of Premoli and Pagani's violin, then precipitated in a very elegant and classical piano performance. An experiment repeated in the hit single, the Genesis "The coach Hans" that will open with a ballad in five quarters, then broke out in a masterful guitar solo (reminiscent of King Crimson's "21st Century Man Schiziod" ) and a brilliant improvisational jazz-prog, with Pagani's violin to the classic design "variations on a theme." The piece, written by Mussida van during a trip to Turin and Milan, won the Festival of Avant-garde and New Trends in Viareggio, and is recorded as the B side of single "See You In September". Closes the album "Thank you so much," one of experimental batch of episodes, in which a gentle acoustic guitar line called the main melody, accompanied by a colorful mellotron, which simulates an orchestra of brass instruments. History of one minute is one of the greatest masterpieces of the Italian rock and the album launches into orbit PFM, progressive flag bearers of a scene that includes groups such as the Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme, Osanna, Area, the New Trolls.