Sensation's Fix (1974)
---5/12/07
I didn't know until recently that Sensations' Fix even had a self-titled debut album. Apparently it was only a promo and not sold through stores (ED: I was later to find out it was a sound library album), despite sporting a unique cover. It's a little more underproduced than their later material, but it unmistakably has the Sensations' Fix space rock sound. Much of the material represents earlier versions of songs that would show up later on Fragments of Light though some of the material is entirely unique to this release.
---3/16/26
A few years after those notes, Universal released the 6th volume of their Progressive Italia series. And today, I'm hearing the album for the first time in 15 years from that same CD. Such an interesting album really. While generally regarded as their debut, this is probably true from a chronological recording data standpoint. Fragments of Light had been released by Polydor in 1974, though it remains unclear if this sound library album was sent to stations before or after that fact (note the misspelled group name). Consider that Portable Madness was also released in 1974, there's only so much time in a year. Musically this sounds like a raw demo. The kind of album that a metal band would release on cassette before maybe hitting the big time with an LP contract. Which certainly doesn't make it a bad album. One can already hear the great ideas Falsini had in his head, and his guitar playing is as soulful as ever. The sound is demo quality for certain. Hollow and thuddy. Part of the charm I think. The CD is taken from vinyl, so it's difficult to know how the original tapes may have sounded. And the odds of me obtaining the original LP are slim, especially since it was never for sale in Italy, much less here in the US.
Speaking of which, all these years later, and the reissues of Sensations' Fix remain an embarrassment. If there was ever a group who needed professional treatment, it's these guys. A box set of carefully mastered tapes would be amazing. Do those tapes even exist? Who knows. Only the Falsini anthology Music is Painting in the Air gives us any clue of what the possibilities may be.
Ownership: 2010 Universal (as part of the 6 CD box set Progressive Italia Gli Anni '70 Vol. 6). Acquired in 2011.
5/12/07 (notes); 2/5/11; 3/16/26 (update)
Franco Falsini's only solo album takes in one part Manuel Gottsching, one part Richard Pinhas, and three parts of the outer galaxy he apparently emigrated from. Analog wedgy electronics, and thick oozing heavy guitar shards define the sound palette, whereas the melodies are pulled from his own Sensations' Fix cookbook - you'll hear plenty of snippets from Fragments of Light and Portable Madness within. I would love to see the movie that was inside of Falsini's mind during this recording. Essential head space music.
Ownership:
And here we have... the single greatest space rock album of all time!
No small claim that. Not an irreverent throw out to grab one's attention. Not an epiphany on the 4th beer. No - this is pretty much where I've stood for the 26 years I've owned the album. Last night it comes up again, and reminds me that it is, indeed, the single greatest space rock album of all time. Of course, not everyone will agree with that, and probably the it's overrated crowd will be along here any minute.
Twisty, turny, kinetic, psychedelic, jumpy, murky, primordial, psychotic, and melodic are just a few adjectives that come to mind here. The opening two numbers are great enough, but once 'Phase One and Phase Two' starts spinning in multiple directions, you are sucked into the vortex of another world and dimension. If this doesn't happen to you, then stop surfing the net, watching TV, texting on Facebook with a Russian hooker, or vacuuming the rug. Start from the beginning and pay close attention. OK you there now? Good, so now by the time you get to 'Pasty Day Resistance', you have reached what I consider the single greatest space rock track of all time. There's more twists and turns on this five and half minute track then I've heard on full double albums. 'Leave My Chemistry Alone' will finally polish you off, and presumably you're in a cold sweat by now. The album closes with two relatively sane compositions, and tries to return you to Earth, but doesn't quite get there. You are lost forever.
The fuzzy photograph on the front cover, taken in the same spirit as Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster, tells you all you need to know about its provenance. This can't be Italian - nor German as it may seem - but something from another galaxy.
Ownership:
Franco Falsini - Cold Nose (1975)
Ownership:
1975 Polydor Special (LP). Acquired in 1989.
2010 Universal (as part of the 6 CD box set Progressive Italia Gli Anni '70 Vol. 6). Acquired in 2011.
1989; 2/5/11; 11/21/17; 5/25/18 (review)
Portable Madness (1974)
No small claim that. Not an irreverent throw out to grab one's attention. Not an epiphany on the 4th beer. No - this is pretty much where I've stood for the 26 years I've owned the album. Last night it comes up again, and reminds me that it is, indeed, the single greatest space rock album of all time. Of course, not everyone will agree with that, and probably the it's overrated crowd will be along here any minute.
Twisty, turny, kinetic, psychedelic, jumpy, murky, primordial, psychotic, and melodic are just a few adjectives that come to mind here. The opening two numbers are great enough, but once 'Phase One and Phase Two' starts spinning in multiple directions, you are sucked into the vortex of another world and dimension. If this doesn't happen to you, then stop surfing the net, watching TV, texting on Facebook with a Russian hooker, or vacuuming the rug. Start from the beginning and pay close attention. OK you there now? Good, so now by the time you get to 'Pasty Day Resistance', you have reached what I consider the single greatest space rock track of all time. There's more twists and turns on this five and half minute track then I've heard on full double albums. 'Leave My Chemistry Alone' will finally polish you off, and presumably you're in a cold sweat by now. The album closes with two relatively sane compositions, and tries to return you to Earth, but doesn't quite get there. You are lost forever.
The fuzzy photograph on the front cover, taken in the same spirit as Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster, tells you all you need to know about its provenance. This can't be Italian - nor German as it may seem - but something from another galaxy.
Ownership:
1974 Polydor (LP). Textured single sleeve. Acquired in 1991.
CD: 2009 Universal (as part of Progressive Italia Gli Anni '70 Vol. 1 - The Universal Music Collection). Acquired in 2009.
1991; 5/28/09; 9/19/12; 10/27/17 (review)
Also own and need to review: Fragments of Light; Finest Finger; Boxes Paradise; Music Is Painting In The Air
10/27/17 (new entry)
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