Customer Reviews

Per Un Amico

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When your 2-year-old daughter starts singing the little choir of a rock band you know you are listening more than to progressive rock. The choir is in "Geranio", the closing track of an absolutely beautiful album. You will get to there through the semi-military bumps of "Generale", the melancholy of the title track, and the rhythmical clarity of "Il banchetto". But even in a masterpiece album there is the supreme moment, and that certainly is the opening title "Appena un po'"(Just a bit). If not available to every audiophile's ears it should be played in schools to illustrate how grand and magnificent music, even the contemporary product of a progressive rock band, can be: It will open people's heart and mind. May the endorphins be with you.

Of PFM's two best albums; this is the better one compared to Storio de Minute. The 5th track, in particular, is awesome with great keyboarding. It reminds me of Chris Squires' Canon Song on Fish out Of Water - including a heavy bass synthesizer and orchestral counterpoints.

It really is some of the very best Prog Rock ever produced. Italian lyricks add to the overall effect.

If you like progressive music, you really owe it to yourself to check this album out. It is truly beautiful and stands up to anything by Yes, ELP, Genesis or King Crimson. Don't be put off by the Italian vocals either, they are beautiful and sublime. Also forget the English language remix of this album, "Photos of Ghosts". This album is far superior. Most of the tracks have a mellow, pastoral feel to them, but these boys could rock too and there is some keyboard work on here that would make Keith Emerson blush. An unforgettable highlight of the album is the first track, Appena un Po', there is nothing else like it. This is one of the best albums ever, and the disc sounds great. It's hard to find though, I got their discs when I was in Italy recently. Do yourself a favor.

PFM were a brilliant Italian progressive-rock outfit. This album is one of their finest. Each composition is rich with a strong sense of melody, intricate composition, diverse instrumental interplay and originality. More than perhaps any other prog-rock outfit they were successful in marrying the influences of classical and chamber music to that of rock to present a unique and exceptional product. There is not a weak number in the collection. The only thing one will wish for in listening to this fine disc is an understanding of Italian as on this recording they had yet to break from singing in their native tongue. Highly recommended...Simon

I've been an avid music collector all my life, and have thousands of CDs and LPs.

The other reviewers have mentioned specifics, which I won't bother to repeat, except simply to say that this is on my Dozen Desert Island Discs list!

THE HYPE IS REAL THIS TIME. A CLASSIC MASTERPIECE. AVOID THE ENGLISH VERSION "PHOTOS OF GHOSTS." NO COMPARISON WHATSOEVER. OWN ONE OF THE BEST WORKS OF MUSIC EVER MADE. GO AHEAD, YOU NEED IT.

This album is a blessing for fans of progressive music. I rank Per un Amico as the best PFM album ever. The pastoral beauty of this music will simply amaze you, it has everything a prog fan needs: lush keyboards, violin, flute, acoustic and electric guitars, solid drumming and beautiful vocals. Definitely among the top 10 Italian progressive albums of all time.

PFM gets hyped up as one of the greatest prog bands to come out of Italy, and once you hear Per Un Amico, their second album, released in 1972, you'll know why. Their music is prog with folk, classical and some jazz thrown in. There isn't a bad song on this album, but "Il Banchetto" is my favorite and really shows PFM at their best. There's even some piano in there that sounds like it came right off ELP's Brain Salad Surgery (although be aware, BSS was not released until a year after Per Un Amico). But what I really love of "Il Banchetto" was the wonderful use of Moog and even harp. There's a lot going on here and it might need a few listens to appreciate this piece. "Appena Un Poco" (at least that's what it says on my LP copy, as it's also called "Appena Un Po'") is very much in typical PFM fashion, acoustic, pastoral, and great vocal harmonies. This cut does remind me a little of King Crimson, it bears a small resemblance to "Epitaph". There are influences from other bands like Genesis and ELP, but rarely does these influences become obvious. What more can I say of this album? If you're a lover of Italian prog, this album must be in your collection. But forget that pale English language version of this album called Photos of Ghosts.

This record is considered as one of the best progressive rock albums ever made. Contains beautiful music composed, arranged and produced by PFM. Great hits like "Il Banchetto" and "Appena Un Po'" are in this album. Mauro Pagani plays his flute better than ever and F. Mussida, F. Premoli, G. Piazza and F. Di Cioccio play at their best. In conclusion, 'Per Un Amico' is a great album, a must have for prog fans.

A combination of beauty and complexity, Per un Amico is one of the best Progressive Rock album ever. You will love this CD if you like Yes, King Crimson, Emmerson Lake and Palmer, etc...