Suonare Suonare

Long after their contract with the Manticore label ended, PFM were still making records exclusively in their native Italy, which British RCA has seen fit to release on CD in England. By this time, the group had lightened up considerably from their early-'70s progressive rock sound -- Franco Mussida's guitars are the dominant instrument, Flavio Premoli is more likely to be playing piano than synthesizer, and Lucio Fabri is as likely to be sawing away with a country fiddle sound as bowing a concert violin. But their songs have a more easy-going character, without the attempted profundity of their Photos of Ghosts/World Became the World period. This version of the group relates to the earlier one the way later Genesis relates to earlier (i.e. Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and before), or where ELP's Love Beach stood next to their earlier work. There is still some good music and playing: "Si Puo Fare" includes decent workouts on guitar, violin, and synthesizer, and it has a great beat; "Topolino" is a good showcase for Mussida's flashiest playing and has a nice melody; "Maestro Della Voce" has some pleasing moments, in which the players soar; and "Sogno Americano" has a catchy chorus. ~ Bruce Eder