FRAGMENTS OF LIGHT

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