by Bruce Eder

The group's phantasmagorical debut English-language album (sung phonetically), originally released on ELP's Manticore label, is filled with beautifully melodic, classically based songs; strong inclinations toward psychedelia; and a refreshingly open and airy sound, free from the thick Germanic textures of competing classical rock bands. Additionally, PFM is not only unafraid of doing songs that change time-signatures radically, but revels and thrives in such unusual structures. The phonetically sung English lyrics take on a special eerieness on track such as "Promenade The Puzzle." The original Italian-language version of this album, with a couple of different tracks, is also available on CD. The CD of this mid-1970's progressive album makes up for lots of rotten vinyl pressings that Americans had to contend with. Clean sound for the first time, especially on the quiet passages, and none of the fuzziness of the vinyl version of this record.