FRAGMENTS OF LIGHT

Very trippy, spacey and trance-y and pretty electronic. I'd call the music at different times (or often simultaneously) Psychedelic Space Rock, Progressive Electronic, Krautrock and Psych Ambient. On this album (1974) I hear similarities to Pink Floyd, Ashra, Tangerine Dream, Eloy, Ash Ra Tempel, A.R. & Machines, Hawkwind, Fripp/Eno, Brainticket... Their sound manages to be fresh and unique, with a very creative and original musical sensibility.

Some of the electronic parts show this band to be an early pioneer of both psychedelic/progressive electronic and psychedelic space rock a la Ashra (whom they preceded by 2 years!), Pink Floyd (whose album 'Wish You Were Here'-1975 they preceded with their first 2 albums), Eloy (whose masterpiece 'Ocean' came 3 years later-in 1977), and Tangerine Dream (who released Pheadra the same year). More "song"-oriented than its successor. Sounds in line with the German electronic, krautrock and symphonic genres, though an abundance of other styles are invoked here and there, with touches of French and English psych and electronic (they were an Italian band). Of interest is their use of simultaneous synth/keyboard and acoustic guitar.

Two songs feature singing: 'Space Energy Age' electronic and trippy one with pulsating electronic beats (one of the only songs to feature drum machine, the other being 'Life Beyond Darkness'), and with lyrics "Now I'm floating away. .. I don't know where I'm going to land. .. .. Space energy age .., now I know where my head is going .., cause I believe in music .., and my guitar is all I've got" and 'Do You Love Me', a tune sounding oddly similar to 'Oh Maggie' by Rod Stewart and sounding a slightly out of place on the album but far from filler and generally good. 'Space Closure' is probably the my favorite track on the album-- electronic jazz with truly fabulous drumming and solid synth leads, textures, and bass parts. "Music Is Painting in the Air", "Space Energy Age", and "Telepathic Children" are other favorites from this album. The songs alternate between more floaty ideas and more structured songs, giving the album a good amount of space. One of my favorite albums out of Italy.

4.5