PFM - I Dreamed Electric Sheep

PFM
I Dreamed Electric Sheep
(Inside Out)
8.5/10
By Paul Davies

The real and the surreal, A.I. or the organic, Utopia/Dystopia and technology versus humanity are the allegorical themes explored via the excellent musical compositions on this arresting latest release by this reinvigorated Italian Prog entity. With the album title inspired by Philip K Dick’s famed and filmed novel, PFM’s love of science fiction sizzles like a mass of isotopes as they fuse dramatic passages of mesmeric music to thought provoking narratives. From the sweeping bombast of opener Worlds Beyond that falls into the dreamy Adrenaline Oasis to the lush lopes on If I Had Wings and the jazz-funk fusion feel to the fretting title track, this is PFM at their most melodic and deliciously experimental. Check out Everyday Heroes which translates from the sci-fi world to reality via hi-fi with a sublime song craft underpinning a gently delivered vocal. Also, the eastern influenced prog passages and engaging spirit lifting chorus with beautiful flute, by Ian Anderson, and guitar courtesy of Steve Hackett on Kindred Souls is a delight to the ears.

Throughout, the level of musicianship is as thought provoking as the arrangements into which the instrumentation coalesces as Transhumance and (Jam) re-emphasises with its head-spinning thoughtful collision of musical ideas. On this record, in both Italian and English languages, Franz Di Cioccio and Patrick Djivas have probably recorded their best album bar none.