DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

PFM – Val Sinestra EP

2001

It’s week four thousand, six hundred and bagpipe cleaner of my reviews, which tells you quite clearly that I have not kept any idea of the number it is and that I’m slightly mad. That’s not what this is about though. The mad bit might be, but the calendar not so. The quality of records, the unearthing of long lost feelings and memories, together with enjoying the process of taking each one of these items off the shelf, photographing and writing as the music plays. That’s the thrill and enjoyment. Whether it be a tattered paper sleeve housing an old white label, or a pristine gatefold of art holding a beautifully labelled treasure, the journey of sights and sounds continues. 

The reviews may halt for a couple of days, however the work on these over that time is usually pretty intense. I do spin some tunes though without tapping the keys, for a couple of hours. That always adds a relaxed and much needed spell of wayward thought drifting. Speaking of such music, we continue today with the majestic and legendary sounds of PFM. 

   ‘Val Sinestra’ on Side C brings us a taste of a rather flamenco tempered piece of music which is odd in that the area (as mentioned on the last review), is in the Swiss Alps. Regardless of this minor twinkle, the whole track here is just fucking delightful. The way it builds up and then opens it the heavenly pads, light rhythmic flurries and the harmonious key changes, is tear jerking.

The bass has some of that Basement sound with the electro taps while the sub bass clicks in when the beats pick up the pace and everything forms into this Adonis of chilled, ambient bliss. We have here a track that redefines the way PFM made music. It’s one of the most chilled and relaxing pieces in the entire catalogue of PFM’s work. 

  It really pushes up the bar, lays down the breaks and sets alight the synapses with a vengeance. 

   On Side D we have ‘In Love (Garage Mix)’ which is probably the one I play least to be honest. Now, don’t throw me in the stocks and pelt me with rancid vegetables, but I’ve never clicked with the whole garage scene. I know it was a big part of the garden that the drum and bass tree grew in, but I never had the passion or drive to venture into it. Nevertheless, as tunes go, and knowing the original which was played a fair bit, this is not a bad alternative version of ‘In Love’. If you’re after a track to get the last of the night ravers out the club and get the venues personelle to switch the lights on now the daylight pours in, this rattles of an easy going off-shoot to mingle and meander home. 

   I doubt it’ll be spun too many times again by me, but then, when you have such a leviathan of an EP with the other three monumental compositions, you’ll not worry about this one anyway. A classy EP that kept the PFM adoration flying high. 

   A big shout to Mike. More from him in the not too distant future.

  Next up, our next EP in the series.