•
Rating: Can Italian rock compete with Anglo-American rock?
Well, maybe not, but in the '70s there were the first attempts to find a native path to rock, and the results were excellent, unexpected.
Contributing to perhaps the first real great Italian rock phenomenon and sparking a memorable season full of high-level bands and albums, namely that of progressive rock, were the members of the beat group Quelli: drummer Franz di Cioccio, bassist Giorgio Piazza, keyboardist Flavio Premoli, and guitarist Franco Mussida. These outstanding musicians, after several experiences as session men for Battisti, De André, Celentano, and Mina, met the multi-instrumentalist Mauro Pagani (soon to be on flute and violin), and formed P.F.M., a historic group that would climb the US and UK charts with triumphant tours.
In 1972, they released "Storia di un minuto," perhaps not the best but the most genuine from the group. The album clearly draws on English progressive rock, especially King Crimson and Jethro Tull. The tracks feature classical scores, jazz hints, and very intricate structures, but the significance of the album mainly lies in being an excellent example of Italian rock and containing a gem of all Italian music, their most famous track, the one that went down in history: "Impressioni di settembre". The song, a poem by Mogol set to music by Mussida, is extraordinary and very innovative: indeed, the chorus is instrumental, moreover dominated by the Moog, a keyboard-based synthesizer system, at the time an alien object in Italy. Another masterpiece is the progressive-tarantella "E' festa", which later became the famous "Celebration" in the English version. One must not forget the final ballad "Grazie davvero", the acoustic and changing "Dove...quando", divided into two parts, the very long and virtuosic "La carrozza di Hans", and the atmospheric "Introduzione", all high-level pieces.
Together with Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme, and a few other musical realities, among the many high-level ones that were emerging in that season, P.F.M. is to be considered an absolute and fundamental peak of prog and Italian rock.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 La carrozza di Hans (06:45)
Guarda, cerca
corri lontano,
vola…
Hans il mercante
aspetta lontano,
vola…
Piccolo uomo
signore del mondo
vai…
La carrozza attende già
no ti fermare,
a cassette sali e va
non ti voltare,
suona un corno da cocchiere,
lustra l'abito de Re;
è la carrozza di Hans.
Strade e strade correrai,
senza contare,
cieli e cieli finirai,
tu sai volare,
suona un corno da cocchiere,
lustra l'abito de Re;
è la carrozza di Hans.
Cieli infiniti, vento in faccia
voglia di correre e non fermarsi mai
scrivere suonare e bailare
e non fermarsi mai
bruciare il proprio teatro
vestira il proprio teatro
ascoltara, lavorare a dormire
e nor fermarsi mai;
guardarsi in giro
sentirsi il mondo negli occhi
sentirsi piccino e adorare
e non fermarsi mai.
…i silenzi,
e foglie cadute e cadute
a nubi bige a rimpiattino...
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By mayhem
"The sweet poetry of 'Impressioni di settembre'... I would compare it without hesitation to 'Stairway To Heaven' by Led Zeppelin: in short, a 'must'."
"An important feature of this album is also the fact that it is played 'live in studio'... this gives the work a unique emotional impact."
By Viva Lì
'Storia di un minuto' (a minute that lasted thirty years) is the first album of Premiata Forneria Marconi, and it is their masterpiece.
Premiata Forneria Marconi undoubtedly are very good, play very well, sing so-so but are not perfect.
By jimi
All of Italy should be proud of PFM; in a country where rock bands have always been overshadowed by British giants, having a band that has been praised even by bands like Led Zeppelin should make us happy.
'Impressioni di Settembre'... A masterpiece, in short. One of those songs that directly enters your veins while you’re listening.
By lobotomy
"Storia Di Un Minuto is an album that made history and contains memorable songs for the worldwide progressive scene (no, I am not mistaken!!!)."
"A must-have record for all ’70s progressive enthusiasts."
By Bloody Francy
"Storia di un minuto is a musical fairy tale, a collection of moments of such intensity that it seems eternal."
"Impressioni di Settembre is the moment before dawn, the moment when the night is darkest—the moment before getting up and starting over."
