Premiata Forneria Marconi
Live in USA

Reviewing an album by Premiata Forneria Marconi is no easy task. It isn't easy because the music, especially, but also the lyrics, are very unique. I believe that a wonderful band like P.F.M., if only they had had the strength and courage to stay longer in America in the year 1974, would certainly be world-renowned today, on par with Genesis or E.L.&P. Listening to LIVE IN USA, hearing (through a vinyl record - we're talking about the year '74) all the energy and drive that flows in those grooves, is almost unmatched in any live of that era. The great merit of Premiata has been and is, besides playing like gods, playing as a group, as a band and not, as it happened with Yes, E.L.&P. or Jethro Tull where one member of the group dominated over the others.

Now let's talk about the record. The first track is a flagship song of P.F.M.: "Four Holes in the Round" (La luna nuova). In this track, the instrumental intertwining, the chromatic scales of Mussida, Pagani, and Premoli, and the crescendo finale make it an evergreen even today. It is followed by another classic of the group: "Dove... Quando... P.I." Here, the 15th-century madrigal text and the typical Italian melody reach great heights. There's a piano introduction by Premoli, a true masterpiece, and Franz's voice gives a special touch to the piece. The record continues with a solo by Mussida that goes beyond any rosy expectations. At some moments, it seems as if listening to two guitars playing, while it's just his "spider hand" plucking the strings. The solo transitions into another famous and very Italian song by Premiata: "Just Look Away (Dolcissima Maria)" where the English lyrics, written by former King Crimson poet Pete Sinfield, are truly beautiful. We now reach P.F.M.'s sonic manifesto: "Celebration". Here the band truly makes an American audience clap and tap their feet enchanted by this rock tarantella. In the middle of the piece, there's a reference to "Funiculì Funiculà" (the famous Neapolitan tarantella) which demonstrates how the group, live, did not miss the opportunity to showcase their Italianness abroad. The finale is a crescendo on the notes of "Impressioni di Settembre", truly spine-chilling.

The second part of the album opens with another incredible track: "Mr 9’ till 5" where Di Cioccio shows his skill with a breathtaking attack. A very fast bass drum connected to the rolls and the odd time on the cymbals. Within the track, one hears jazz, rock, and even a military march roll (the title in Italian is indeed Generale). The album closes with a masterpiece of musical improvisation: "Alta loma". Mussida reaches high peaks of soloism in this piece, aided by a very fit Premoli and a Pagani(ni) who inflames his violin with rapid notes. In the finale of the piece, Premiata closes with Rossini's William Tell Overture, once again demonstrating the group's intention to keep the name Italy high in the world.

I give this live the highest marks for warmth, quality in improvisation, and for the well-known technical prowess of all the musicians in the band. This review of mine is meant to be a recognition and merit to an Italian group, among other things voted by the English music bible – Melody Maker – as the revelation group of the year and to point out to the reader that if Premiata had had the strength and courage to stay longer in America and "Play Play", certainly today it would be at the same level of popularity as bands like King Crimson, Genesis, and other famous ones, while choosing to return to Italy, they precluded themselves from the popularity they deserved.