PORTABLE MADNESS

"Portable Madness" was released in 1974 as the second album of SENSATIONS' FIX, and I easily guess this creation might have aroused a definite controversy both in Rock Progressivo Italiano and in psychedelic progressive rock scene, with their mysterious, heavy, symphonic psychedelia massively tinged with dry-fruity experimentalism like Krautrock, created with guitars, synthesizers, and drums - yes, a quite basic formation like other rock combo.

Their music structure and strategy (aka conspiracy against our mindscape) are pretty simple and steady. Richard's heavy and deep bass riffs, Franco's awesome synthesizer-based atmospheric radiation and ghostly guitar fuzz, and Keith's quietly explosive drumming rigidity ... they are not complex nor phantasmagoric like other progressive rock project indeed (especially Franco's synthesizer sounds are not only plain and smooth but also distorted and tolerant), but their continual threatening voltage in this work has never been experienced. This "progressive environment" veiling the whole album looks really as if searing pain like getting sunburn, or chilling coolness like touching ice. Sometimes we can yield ourselves to their momentary calmness or comfort, that might herald disquieting air blowing in the next moment. And there's enough evidence for such a drastic phenomenon here and there. Of course, we can hear polished delicacy maybe the three Italian had been drenched in by nature too all through.

Very amazing "Portable Madness" has been recorded and released about 40 years before, whilst even now this album always gives us gooseflesh and remarkable instability into our mind, just like a disquietude in the sleeve picture.Recommended for every progressive rock fan who gets a bit bored at contemporary space rock.