Ulisse

This 1997 album was the first album by Italian progressive rock group PFM in a decade. Keyboardist Flavio Premoli, who had left circa 1980, rejoined guitarist Franco Mussida, drummer Franz DiCioccio and bassist Patrick Djivas, with the first three sharing the lead vocals. "Ulisse" is a concept album based on the Ulysses saga, with lyrics by Vincenzo Incenzo (who also wrote the words for 2006's "Dracula Opera Rock." The album is entirely in Italian.There are some good songs here, especially "Andare per Andare" (which translates as something like "leaving for leaving's sake") and the ballad "Ulisse". But the bottom line is that four of the five best songs on "Ulisse" also appear on 1998's excellent live album "www-pfmpfm-it", and all of them sound better live ("Andare per Andare", "Ulisse", the single "Il Cavallo di Legno", and "Sei"). If you haven't already got that album, go for it first. The best of the other songs is "Il Mio Nome E Nessuno", which includes Mussida doing some Steve Morse-style picking on the chorus and a long closing section with Mussida soloing while Premoli repeats a string synth chord progression an octave higher each time through. Alessandro Colombini's production is slack, compared to the solid sound of 2000's studio follow-up "Serendipity".(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)

Let's face it. PFM is no longer making "progressive" music, and hasn't in more than 25 years, actually since the release of "Chocolate Kings" (1975); coincidentally (?), since the departure of multi-instrumentist (violin, flute etc.) Mauro Pagani.What PFM has been doing since then is sophisticated pop music, sometimes pretty good, sometimes not quite as good (Come ti va in riva alla citta, Miss Baker).The band had splitted in 1987, and Ulisse (1997) is the album of PFM re-union.In my opinion, it's probably their best effort since Jet Lag (1977). Most PFM fans I guess are happy to see the return of Flavio Premoli (keyboards), who had left after Suonare Suonare.The album, sung in Italian, features a number of pretty good tracks : the introduction "Ieri", "Sei", and the last 5 tracks (12 cuts in total).Of course, those still hoping for a genuine prog album will be disappointed. On the other hand, those who can accept that PFM's sound and genre have "evolved" will not dislike this album on which some of the qualities that were the trademarks of the band during the first half of the seventies (complex structures, unexpected turns, extreme sophistication, mix of genres, etc.) are perhaps not to be found, but where outstanding musicianship, great vocal harmonies, a decent dose of creativity, and maturity can be enjoyed. Not a bad effort at all. (Actually, I much prefer Ulisse over the following "Serendipity" (2000).

Con "Ulisse" la Premiata Forneria Marconi ritorna alle origini con non tanto successo come nel caso della sua opera prima il concep-album "Storia di un minuto". Della formazzione originale manca il violinista, flautista Mauro Pagani però che durante la tourneé italiana usci da dietro le quinte per un tornarello in "Dove? Quando?". Il musico lasciò il gruppo si dice per differenze ideologiche nella metà degli '80. L'introduzione di questo viaggio è recitata dall'attore Ricky Tognazzi e racconta una storia dei giorni d'oggi ispirata liberamente al mito d'Ullise. Testi colti e buene musiche che ci riportano per momento a un po' del loro tempo migliore. Da non lasciar perdere.

Ovviamente parlo da fan della PFM della tarda ora. Album molto bello, le sonorità sono adeguate ai tempi anche se si riconosce sempre lo stile della PFM. Particolarmente bella la canzona "SEI" che da sola vale l'acquisto dell'album.

arrrivato integro ed in pocjhissimo tempo.....il cd è splendido, musicalmente uno dei migliori del gruppo, mi stupisco del perchè non sia così conosciuto.

A1 Fast delivery Thank you

tout simplement sublime.

はじめは、えらく歌い上げているな、と思った。しかし、聞き込んでいくとそればかりではない。PFMのDNAはしっかりと保存されている。地中海的なサウンド。悲しさと明るさ。情熱とあきらめ。懐かしさと新しさ。明らかに日本的ではないアクセント。基本的には「Miss Baker」路線か。大人のPFMである。衒いはないが、にじみ出るものはしょうがないではないか。毎晩リピートで聞いている。子どもが寝てから俺が寝るまでの３時間、大音量で聞きまくりだ。そんな生活がもう１週間にもなる。