Leftfield charts

Review: British and American artists working in the experimental scene were in fine fettle during the mid to late 1970s, though it is a rather under-investigated time. This new, vast and comprehensive box set from Dialogo's - made in full collaboration with all of the composers or their estates - serves up all ten of the albums Brian Eno's Obscure Records label put out. Each one has been remastered and an extensive booklet is included making this an essential collection that documents some of the most vital sounds to emerge during the second half of the 20th Century.

Review: For the first time, Piero Umiliani's entire Liuto label production is collected together in a remarkable 19-CD box set. This set includes 18 albums (with the final album being a double CD), each housed in a replica of its original sleeve. Accompanied by a 72-page booklet featuring rare photos, essays by Maurizio Corbella and Niccolo Galliano, and a detailed discography, this release is fully endorsed by the Umiliani family. Umiliani's contributions were pivotal in shaping the Italian sound in jazz, film, and library music. His ability to merge creativity with production and publishing made him a true modern musician who was integral to Italy's rich musical heritage, as this collection proves beyond doubt.

Review: The Complete Sound Work Shop Heritage box set is an extraordinary tribute to Piero Umiliani's prolific career, gathering his entire output on the Sound Work Shop label into an unparalleled 17-CD collection. Housed in faithful reproductions of the original album covers, this set is complemented by a 72-page booklet featuring rare photographs, insightful essays by Maurizio Corbella and Niccolo Galliano, and a comprehensive discography and tracklist. For the first time, Umiliani's extensive contributions to Italian jazz, film scores, and library music are showcased in one collection. His work at the Sound Work Shop studio, which he opened in 1968, played a crucial role in shaping the sound of Italian popular music. The studio was a hub of creativity where Umiliani explored a vast array of genres, from funk and psychedelic rock to avant-garde and electronic music. This collection reveals Umiliani's genius not just as a composer, but as a producer and visionary who controlled every aspect of his music's creation and distribution. The box set is a comprehensive portrait of a modern musician whose influence on Italian music during the 1970s remains indelible, making this collection essential for historical reasons.