SENSATIONS' FIX

For me this was somewhat of a disappointment after the excellent first three albums. 'Boxes Paradise' is not quite as interesting or innovative as those albums, though it's still a great album. It took me a little while to fully appreciate it, as it is a little bit of a different style. "The Flu" is a very good song, catchier and more streamlined than their prior work. "Faux Batard" and "Mother's Day" (though it takes a while to get interesting) are two other very nice tracks. "Boxes Paradise" and "Voices" are pretty good too. "Luna Slain" is a reprise of "Fullgast" from 'Portable Madness', and "Visions Fugitives" is a reprise of "Just a Little More on the Curve" and "Yardbird's Dream" from 'Finest Finger' (Take those songs off and you have 26 minutes of new material). Both now have vocals, as do all songs on this album (unless you except "Short Flights", which is the last 2/3 of "Boxes Paradise"). Further, most of "Mother's Day" is a reprise of parts of "Parte 2" and "Parte 3" from Franco Falsini's sole, 1975 solo album, 'Cold Nose Story'. Make that about 20 minutes of new material! All of these reprises are somewhat different, sometimes adding drums, and adding and/or subtracting guitar and synth parts. There is also a Genesis/symphonic prog influence on here it seems, especially on "Faux Batard" (vocals), and "Mother's Day" (music and vocals) IMO. The album overall sounds more straightforward than their previous work, and is definitely less psychedelic. There is some alternating 8/8 and 11/8 on "Boxes Paradise" and some 5/4, as well as 6/4 and 7/4 or "Mother's Day".

3.75

Very trippy, spacey and trancey and pretty electronic. I'd call the music at different times (or often simultaneously) Psychedelic Space Rock, Psychedelic Krautrock, Progressive Electronic, Psych Ambient, and Kraut Symphonic Prog, as well as rock, jazz, electronic, blues, soul, folk and funk. I hear (across this album (1976), 'Portable Madness' (1974) and 'Fragments of Light' (1974)--the three i've heard) similarities to Ashra, Pink Floyd, Ash Ra Tempel, A.R. & Machines, Genesis, Hawkwind, Nektar, Eloy, Black Sabbath, Fripp/Eno, Agitation Free, Brainticket, Kalacakra, Popol Vuh.. Their sound manages to be fresh and distinct from each of these bands, with a very creative and original musical sensibility. "Strange About Your Hands" is a fuller and more inspired and focused version of the section "Strange About The Hands" on their previous album 'Portable Madness' and "Finest Finger" is likewise a more developed version of that respective section on 'Portable Madness'. "Maps" is a great track for me although it is not imperfect

This album isn't as good as either "Fragments of Light" or "Portable Madness", though it comes close. Much like the magnificent Anyone's Daughter in that their albums, at least the three listed above have a slightly different inspired take on a very signature style.

4.25

Very trippy, spacey and trancey and pretty electronic. I'd call the music at different times (or often simultaneously) Psychedelic Space Rock, Progressive Electronic, Psychedelic Krautrock, Psych Ambient, and Kraut Symphonic Prog, as well as rock, jazz, electronic, blues, soul, folk and funk. I hear (across this album (1974), 'Fragments of Light' (1974) and 'Finest Finger' (1976)--the three i've heard) similarities to Ashra, Pink Floyd, Ash Ra Tempel, A.R. & Machines, Genesis, Hawkwind, Nektar, Eloy, Black Sabbath, Fripp/Eno, Agitation Free, Brainticket, Kalacakra, Popol Vuh, and some Japanese psych perhaps, as well as a number of bands I can't yet put my finger on. Their sound manages to be fresh and distinct from each of these bands, 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 preceeded by 2 years!), Pink Floyd (whose album 'Wish You Were Here'-1975 they preceded with their first 3 albums-all 1974 by 1 year!), 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. Very good.

4.5

Very trippy, spacey and trancey and pretty electronic. I'd call the music at different times (or often simultaneously) Psychedelic Space Rock, Progressive Electronic, Psychedelic Krautrock, Psych Ambient, and Kraut Symphonic Prog, . Across this album (1974, their first), 'Portable Madness' (1974) and 'Finest Finger' (1976) (the three i've heard) I hear similarities to Pink Floyd, Ashra, Tangerine Dream, Eloy, Ash Ra Tempel, A.R. & Machines, Genesis, Hawkwind, Nektar, Black Sabbath, Fripp/Eno, Agitation Free, Anyone's Daughter, ELP, Brainticket, Kalacakra, Popol Vuh, and somebands I haven't yet put my finger on. Their sound manages to be fresh and distinct from each of these bands, 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 preceeded by 2 years!), Pink Floyd (whose album 'Wish You Were Here'-1975 they preceded with their first 3 albums-all 1974 by 1 year!), 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 not a one of the weaker songs on the album but far from filler and generally good. 'Space Closure' is probably the best track on the album, electronic jazz with truly fabulous drumming and solid synth leads, textures, and bass parts Music Is Painting in the Air" and "Space Energy Age" 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, and I think I like this slightly more than 'Portable Madness', their following album.

4.5

This album isn't as spacey as "Portable Madness" and it has shorter more accessible tracks on it.Also half the tracks have vocals on them,it's almost like they were trying to become more commercial sounding. "Strange About Your Hands" was also on "Portable Madness" but without the vocals.This is one of my favourites on here though.The guitar is melancholic to open as vocals join in quickly with bass. fuller sound when the chorus arrives.The contrast continues.I really like the guitar 2 minutes in and it eventually starts to cry out as the bass throbs. "Just A Little Bit More On The Curve" opens with bass as guitar comes in tastefully with cymbals.Synths a minute in and drums follow.It's cool the way you can hear the two different guitars playing seperately through the left and right speakers. "Yardbirds Dream" is more uptempo as guitar and drums lead the way. "Map" is another favourite of mine.A nice steady beat with guitar sounds so good.Organ comes and goes and drums are prominant late.Beautiful song. "Boat Of Madness" is led early by synths and bass before vocals and drums join in.It becomes psychedelic before 2 1/2 minutes to end it. "The Left Side Of The Green" opens with guitar,keys and drums as vocals join in.Nice bass a minute in.I love the guitar 1 1/2 minutes in,back to vocals a minute later.A hypnotic beat as the guitar plays over top after 4 minutes.Nice. "Finest Finger" opens with a great sound of synths and drums as vocals join in quickly.Organ before 1 1/2 minutes and after 2 1/2 minutes.The guitar is melancholic after 3 minutes to end it.Excellent track. "Into The Memory" is led by synths as drums and guitars come in before a minute.One guitar is riffing the other is playing over top.A change 3 minutes in to a more psychedelic sound.Drums come in after 4 minutes. I really like the cover art front and back with the cartoon picture of the band in the subway.It's 3 dimensional which is cool.I like this record a lot,just an enjoyable and relaxing listen.I still can't believe they're from Italy.

Man if i didn't know these guys were from Italy i'd swear they were from Germany.As hdfisch says there is a definite "krautrock attitude" with their style of play.The songs all blend together, and it's an all instrumental affair.There are synths galore on this album and they sound so beautiful,in fact i thought that they must use mellotron,but it's actually eminant(string organ).The guitar is very upfront the way i like it,as is the bass.By the way the bass player Richard Ursillo also played bass for CAMPO DI MARTE under the name Paul Richard(thankyou Tom Ozric). "Smooth And Round" sounds very cool with the bass lines and the spacey string organ.Guitar 2 minutes in starts to solo over top. "Fullglast" opens with some dark but tasteful guitar as bass throbs and drums pound.The guitar starts to light it up 1 1/2 minutes in.It stops a minute later as synths take over.Bass and drums continue. "Phase One And Phase Two" opens with aggressive guitar as bass and drums continue.Synths and string organ follow when the guitar stops.Nice bass before 2 minutes.Lots of bottom end 2 1/2 minutes in, then guitar returns followed by synths again.Great sound after 3 1/2 minutes as the synths and guitar lead the way. "Underwater" is led by synths throughout, although the guitar comes in soaring over top 2 minutes in.The guitar style changes before 3 1/2 minutes,the song ends with solo synths. "The Next Place Of Nobody" is quite spacey with lots of atmosphere. "Pasty Day Resistance" reminds me of TANGERINE DREAM.Bass and synths lead the way.Some nice drumming before 2 minutes followed by some excellent guitar that grinds away.Great tune. "Leave My Chemistry Alone" has this cool melody to start with then guitar comes in around a minute, but it's brief as synths dominate the rest of the song. "Strange About The Hands" is a much spacier soundscape without any beat or rhythm until after minute in when bass and drums come in.It gets louder, and the synths get more intense 2 1/2 minutes in. Guitar arrives 3 minutes in. "Relative Jump Into Water" is very calm and spacey.Like waves of synths in an almost haunting soundscape. I wish they would remaster this record,the sound isn't terrible but it is a little muddy.A must for krautrock fans.

Finest Finger is overall regarded as the best album from SENSATIONS' FIX and sure it is. With the respect to preceding albums this one is maybe less complex, but surely more lyric oriented and little more dark and less crauty. The songs are 3-5 minutes long but all very interesting. The introduction of the keyboard player Steve Head brought the leader Franco Falsini to mainly concentrate on lyrics and sound. The Falsini's vocalism is a bit Peter Gabriel oriented, but the sound is widely different from any Genesis orientation. His guitar solos are finely inspired, not so fast, but full of feeling and effects. All the musicians are at their best and please pay a little attention to the very personal style of the drummer, especially in Just a little bit more on the curve, which also has a great acoustic guitar solo in the middle, and Yardbirds dream. The Boat of Madness is wonderful in sound, lyrics and feeling. It's all based on the two whistles and is pervaded by a very dark atmosphere, darker than in the whole album. Starting from the beautiful Strange About Your Hands and going through the other 8 songs this 35 minutes long album is a perfect introduction in the crosscontamination of electronic waves with prog music.

Three poin five Stars and a bow to Franco Falsini, wherever is he nowadays!

In each veteran progfan's collection , there is always a few of those strange records (vinyl back then) that hold a special place in their hearts and minds because of a myriad of plausible or ethereal reasons. It's such a personal (as opposed to popular) form of music that it doesn't really matter why it strikes a chord with a few but not with most. Frankly, who cares? This debut album is shrouded in nostalgic memory, remembering where and when I purchased it on a whim, initially intrigued by the following comment on the back jacket "Dear Robert, You'll be glad to know that the heavenly music organization is here too". I loved it then and have so since even though it's not a unique masterpiece (that would be their next one "Portable Madness") or monument by any stretch but I guess it has those qualities that transcend logic and even taste. The third track in particular has kept me mesmerized for decades, "Music in painting in the air" (Whatever!) just slithers along majestically, nothing too complex but obviously highly evocative on some subliminal level. Time to call my shrink, I guess but he likes Serbian folk music, so maybe not! On the 6 minute "Space Closure", you get to see what this is all about: simple space multiple-toned synth music with good bass and grooving drums. Franco Falsini has a unique guitar style that does owe some reverence to Fripp (Oh, that Robert!) but evokes more Steve Hillage (check out "Telepathic Children") than the Tongued Lark, probably due to Falsini's Tim Blake-like synth influence. On "Life Beyond the Darkness", Falsini lets his synthesizers roam free with a crystalline sound that can only charm. Contemplative, electronic, sequential, hallucinogenic and utterly outer worldly, this is fabulous Italian electro-prog that will please many who are open-minded enough to realize that this is from 1974 and is an amateur production (thank goodness). Occasionally, it veers off into odd punky psychedelia (as on "Do You Love Me?) that remains cute but puzzling , a sign of the times I guess. Fans of Khan, Hillage, Gong and space rock in general will find little to dislike. 4 fixed sensations

A call from the heart to the Wind I join my voice to Mann (Michel) regarding his call to nominate FLYING TAPES & FINEST FINGERS as candidates for an overdue digital transfer . please rescue these albums from vinyl . in 2008 , thanks God to extend my life and to hear what MANN said on progarchieves . for your info MANN ,, Sensation's fix has'nt disappear into undeserved premature obscurity . i bought all SF albums in vinyl from Milan & Rome between 1974 - 1979 - ( still up till now in good shape ) . i believe that these rarities worth millions for me , and i was really surprised by some ig***rnts trying to sell these albums for a pack of cigarettes . These albums are too precious for me in vinyl surely , and to satisfy you more my friend , Franco Falsini & Stephen Head of Sensation's fix will never disappear in obscurity . as long as , I and thousands other proggers in Lebanon & the middle east still listen approximatly daily to their amazing works ........,,, Beirut - Lebanon --- best regards to Progarchieves & Mann's review . Essential in every progressive rock collection , as well as Finest Fingers .

Sensation's Fix is a talented spacey rock collectif from Italy. their music is rather different from the usual Italian progressive rock scene. The band is supposed to be captivated by weird analog keybaords experimentations & melodies, floating guitar solos and hypno / groovy bass pulses. Portable Madness features many strange, enigmatic atmospheres suggesting a mysterious astral voyage throw time...The vintage keys instruments are used in a rather old dated style in a genre that will develop Tangerine Dream at the end of the 70', however there isn't electronic patterns or arpeggios, the rhythm is given by the repetitive bass lines. The guitar's sections are rather heavy concerning the riffs and provide spacious epic solos. The inspiration is not always at the top and some parts are cheezy, partly boring or old fashioned due to an insistent use of easy melodies and electronic gadgets. The best passage on side A is represented by the dreamy-like, floating solo at the end (that reminds some Manuel Gottsching's guitar exercices in Blackouts). I personaly consider that the electronic side of Sensations' Fix is the weakest point on this album: theres' no real / visceral atmospheres and the synth waves are rather linear, accessible, mainstream and dominated by a artificial symphonic approach. The ambience is rather cold and difficult in terms of immersion, frankly this is not really a good trip and I imagined something better before to ear the album. This is an honest psychedelic / space rock album (with skilled musicians) but it sounds terribly dated after all these years, just the opposite of early musical efforts released by visionnary krautrock artists.