FETUS

I listened to this for the first time during a live performance. It was the early 80s in a small Italian town (south of Tuscany) and even if he was already well known for his most pop works, he played big portions of Fetus and Pollution.

It was a surprise. I knew him as an eclectic person, but I wasn't expecting to hear prog music actually. He introduced Fetus speaking about his early musical experiences and influences. Unexpectedly, he said he was influenced by early Pink Floyd.

I'm listening to the album now, after many years, and after reading some reviews. I don't see any minimalistic approach on this album. probably it was just too advanced for his time.

We can find tracks of the (good) pop he will make later in the 80s. On another side, the acoustic parts are in the typical RPI style. Give a listen to the closing track: "Mutazione" (Mutation), it reminds to Le Orme.

Even if a Fetus is on the album's cover, it's not about abortion. It's probably when the reference to Pink Floyd (The Embryo) is from. Just the idea, as there's no track of Pink Floyd like music in the whole disc.

I think it's a good example of RPI, not so experimental as somebody else wrote, with hints of Battiato's genius in the lyrics. The most experimental tracks like "Anafase" (one of the phases of cellular division), are short. After a melodic intro, and before an acoustic guitar coda, just 2 minutes of electronic experiments can't scare a progger. It's just a bit unusual for the RPI music of the early 70s, but there's plenty of this sounds in Space Rock.

My mind says 3 stars, even if my heart suggests 4.