DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

P.F.M. – For All Of Us / Mystics

1996

P.F.M. are back with another brandy soaked slice of lightly textured sponge, on the Good Looking label. Not only had they provided two releases already on Good Looking, they were now the only artist so far (apart from Bukem) to have a third release on GLR. 

   Now, I did say GLR. Aquarius had 3 by this time, but one was on LGR (Drift To The Centre). P.F.M. also had the godly track ‘One & Only’ on LGR which came out just before this. I would say that expectations were through the roof for this release, and as you’ve probably guessed it does not disappoint. It’s probably not the track you’d think of out the two, that I rate as a top 3 P.F.M. tune in my view though. As you can see, this is the promo release and no inlays came with mine so I made my own which at leasts help me know which release it is on the fly. Did anyone else receive an official inlay sheet if you also got the promo? If so please let us know. 

    I heard Bukem drop this at The Final Countdown, Dreamscape 21 (or XXI for those that know, or still get something from the BBC’s Roman numerals). It was yet again one of those memorable sets that had an incredible selection of tunes and the lyrical ingenuity of the great MC Conrad (R.I.P.). It still stings knowing he’s not with us anymore, but the number of mixes and tunes attached to his time on this planet, are continually revisited with a mixture of unrivaled enjoyment with pinches of sadness. Only Monday, I rolled out the ‘95 Essential mix for the 3,000th time. 

    Let’s get the tunes rolling, with ‘For All Of Us’ on Side A of this plate. I personally felt that having had the level of work by PFM so far, be the noctilucent clouds of the sky, that  this was a return to some more cirrus work from them. I believe Jamie Saker was still with Mike as PFM for this one? So before the knives come out, I’m not saying that ‘For All Of Us’ is not good. Far from it. The quality and impact that it made still gives us the tremors and aftershocks from its rotations back in ‘96. The memories are yet again the keys for the meanings of these tunes. Places, people and situations become the illustrated backdrops for the music in our lives. The intro is another work of art though, with its deep armchair chords, electrified gun shots and delicate drops of seducing chimes. “It’s for you, it’s for all of us”. This is a peach of an amen roller (the perfect example really). Massive pads and a pretty easy bass takes you up into the breakdown. Those looped echoing wails, the penetrative beauty of the full scope of the PFM tools. Listening again to this, it does raise a number of glasses in toasting its lure and treasures, I do admit. This has a magic within it to coax any doubts out about a dip in standards and I’m now eating my words aren’t I? Maybe the volume I’m cranking this out at and the times of ‘96 just washed over me. It really does make me nostalgic. 

    The other side of this plate though, holds one of the most special places in my heart. First of all, it appeared in Bukem’s Essential Mix in July 1995 on Radio One (months before its release). Second, it feels like three tunes rolled into one. Third, the story that unfolds with this tune is something that I feel makes this one of the best pieces of work that PFM made. To vary along the spectrum with the music in this track is nothing short of gob snacking. From those stirrings within the introduction, we are blessed with a sound that puts a thick fog in the valleys of the highlands with no control over the unintended appearances that leer toward you. ‘The Mystics’ broods its eerie beginnings with that trademark killer bass that had a riff all of its own. The beats kick in for the ride of your life, promenading down the trail of heightened emotions and thrills that balance on the threshold of forgotten dreams and vivid terrors. It’s such a collision of worlds that evokes feelings of millions of memories and a tranquility beyond the realms of time. Part two of this tune has the cheeky laugh sample, peak whispering pipes and then we switch to phase three with the keyboards unpacking the suitcases and throwing open the curtains for the rays of light to drown your stress. This tune is the gleaming jewel in the treasure box of PFM’s work in my opinion. A work of art which will be forever a part of my being. Pure genius.

     PFM maintained an unreachable level of performance across the 94-96 years. We will have more from PFM at a later date as we trek on through the label of other worldly delights and move to our next Good Looking Records write up. We also head towards a new Good Looking Promo design to freshen up the visual vultures out there.