Premiata Forneria Marconi-Storia di Un Minuto (1972)

In the late sixties, the British progressive rock movement was in full swing, and hundreds of bands from numerous countries influenced by the genre ventured to experiment with their own sounds in search of success and glory. One of these many bands was the Italian group Premiata Forneria Marconi, who absorbed this new rock sound, fusing it with different elements such as Italian music, creating their own unique identity. In this context of effervescence and creativity, this Italian band released their second album in 1971, "Storia di Un Minuto", a record that departed completely from the melodic, psychedelic pop sound of their debut. This second album is characterized by reflective and complex passages that support impeccable instrumentation, as demonstrated in the pastoral "Impressioni di Settembre". The following tracks, such as "Paloma…Quando", a sentimental piece reminiscent of medieval music, and the atmospheric "La Carrozza di Hans", continue in this introspective vein, with touches of drama. The popular Italian tarantella style shines through in the lively "E Festa", driven by extroverted keyboards, while jazz improvisation is present in "Paloma…Quando Part II". To close the album, the band reserves its most progressive moment with the experimental "Grazie Davvero", which features precise orchestral arrangements and an outstanding acoustic ending. "Storia di Un Minuto" proved to be an excellent starting point for Premiata Forneria Marconi, who in the following years would release such monumental works as "Per Un Amico" and "Photos of Ghosts", “L´ Isola Di Niente” or “Chocolate Kings”, becoming one of the biggest bands of the Italian progressive movement and the one with the greatest international impact.