PFM - Chocolate Kings
	Released: 1975/1995 Label: BMG / RCA Cat. No.: ND 71781 Total Time: 36:42
	Reviewed by: Tom Karr, March 2004 Chocolate Kings is the fourth real studio album from Premiata Forneria Marconi, or PFM. It seems like more like the seventh, and it is the seventh release, from this legendary Italian group. Some Italian bands, Banco, PFM, and others, have a somewhat confusing discography. There are Italian releases, re-recorded, re-named English language releases, albums re-recorded decades later (as Banco has done) and live albums released under more than one title (PFM’s Cook / Live In The USA) and it is difficult to keep track of them all. This was a new PFM in many ways. Former Aqua Fragile vocalist, Bernardo Lanzetti, had been recruited, they had released a version of La’Isola DiNiente with English lyrics entitled The World Became The World. The interest of ELP’s Manticore Records had sent PFM in a new direction. Like their label mates Banco, they did new versions of their popular Italian releases in hopes of solidifying their reputations, and their record sales in Britain and the USA. The hopes of big sales abroad made them abandon Italian lyrics altogether for a time, starting with Chocolate Kings. Following the example of their mentors ELP, and learning from added exposure to international audiences, they brought up the level of complexity in their writing and performance and kicked up the intensity of their sound considerably. The addition of Lanzetti alone had made a huge difference in the bands already unique and identifiable sound. Perhaps they thought American audiences wanted a more flashy, intense sound from the band, more like Yes, or maybe…, well who knows? Whatever the reason, Chocolate Kings is a radical change from La’Isola Di Niente. There are still moments of the gentle pastoral sound that makes their first three Italian releases classics of the genre, but make no mistake, this is a new, energized, souped up PFM on this album. This is a relatively short album, with five songs presented in about 36 minutes. All of PFM’s early releases are short by current standards, but this one seems to fly by at an alarming rate. Where their earlier releases all reflected a slow, relaxed approach to the music and the development of melody and mood, Chocolate Kings is more urgent, almost frantic at times, and it will take a few listens before you will begin to recognize the familiar elements of the PFM we know and love. There are a lot of notes being played here, and it requires an effort to take it all in. The first song, "From Under," starts out with a flurry of notes played on Premoli’s Hammond organ, reminding me of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and continues at a pace that is unsettling at first listen. Franz Di Cioccio’s drumming on this piece is in danger of careening out of control at any second. All the music on this excellent CD has a fire previously unknown in PFM. The fourth track, "Out On The Roundabout" is the closest thing you will find here to the familiar style you may be expecting. It is a great example of Franco Mussida mastery of fingerstyle picking on the acoustic guitar. It also gives Lanzetti the space his breathy, tremulous vocal style requires. "Paper Charms," this CDs final track is a real tour de force, full of great instrumental virtuosity, with soaring violin from Mauro Pagani and well arranged, impressive keyboards played by Flavio Premoli. Patrick Djivas’s bass playing is quite notable on this release, whether he is matching Mussida note for note in the challenging "On The Roundabout," or the closing number "Paper Charms," where his playing is similar to that of Chris Squire, with a busy, flat picked bass line that is right up in front of the mix. Everyone gets a chance to let it all out on this album, and perhaps, after recording some very reserved, nuanced albums they were itching to make some noise. Whatever their motivation, it is another exceptional work by one of the best, if not the best, Italian progressive rock group. More about Chocolate Kings: Track Listing: From Under (7:29) / Harlequin (7:48) / Chocolate Kings (4:39) / Out On The Roundabout (7:53) / Paper Charms (8:30) Musicians: Franz Di Cioccio – Drums, Percussion, Vocals (batteria, percussioni, voce) Patrick Djivas – Bass (basso) Franco Mussida – Guitar, Vocals (chittare, voce) Mauro Pagini – Flute, Violin (flauti, violini) Flavio Premoli – Keyboards, Vocals (tastieri, voce) Bernardo Lanzetti – Lead Vocals (voce solista) Contact: Website: www.pfmpfm.it Note: will open new browser window Email: pfm@pfmpfm.it Discography Quelli (1969) (as Quelli) Storia Di Un Minuto (1972) Per Un Amico (1972) Photos Of Ghosts (1973) L'Isola Di Niente (1974) The World Became The World (1974) Live In The USA (1974) The Award-Winning Premiata Bakery (1976) Chocolate Kings (1976) Jet Lag (1977) Passpartù (1978) Fabrizio De Andre / PFM - In Concerto Vol 1 (1979) Fabrizio De Andre / PFM - In Concerto Vol 2 (1979) Suonare Suonare (1980) Come Ti Va In Riva Alla Città (1981) Performance (1982) PFM? PFM! (1984) Miss Baker (1987) 10 Anni Live - 1971-1981 (1996) Absolute Live - 1971-1978 (1996) Ulisse (1997) www.pfmpfm.it (Il Best) (1998) Serendipity (2002) Live In Japan (2002)
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