Review: A release that honours the centenary of Alessandro Alessandroni's birth with a collection of previously unreleased tracks from the iconic composer and multi-instrumentalist. This album uncovers a hidden chapter of Italian film scores and library music, featuring Alessandroni's lesser-known work between 1969 and 1978 for war documentaries and films. Paesaggio Bellico isn't just a military march through battlefields but a deeply nuanced exploration of war's human and existential facets. Alessandroni expertly balances sweeping, cinematic themes with moments of tension and unease. His compositions juxtapose stark, unsettling imagery with softer, more hopeful tones that has a poignant counterbalance to the brutality of conflict. The maestro's signature whistle floats over gentle 12-string guitar melodies, while his fuzz-laden Fender Stratocaster electrifies more intense passages. The Cantori Moderni, Alessandroni's trusted vocal ensemble, contribute haunting vocals that delve into the psychology of warfare. An elegant string section adds layers of drama and sentiment, enhancing the album's orchestral weight. With 18 tracks in total, the release is visually enriched by Eric Adrien Lee's cover art, which reimagines the bold design of 1970s Italian war-themed records. With a tip-on hard cover and a unique inner sleeve, the vinyl is a fitting tribute to Alessandroni's enduring legacy, blending sonic and visual storytelling into a truly special release.
Review: Blue Foundation returns with another lush and immersive album that deepens their signature blend of dream pop, shoegaze and ambient electronics. Crafted over three years by the much loved Danish duo Bo Rande and Tobias Wilner, Close to the Knife explores themes of melancholy and introspection through layered textures and haunting vocals from Wilner and Nina Larsen. Guest appearances from Scarlet Rae, Helena Gao, and Sonya Kitchell enrich its emotional depth, while contributions from Chinese experimental noise band Wang's Xie Yugang and drummer Federico Ughi add complexity to this shapeshifting soundtrack.
Review: Originally recorded in Rome with top-tier players like Giorgio Carnini and Giovanni Tommaso, this psychedelic library session bridges modal jazz, Latin percussion, and fuzzed-out funk. This reissue restores the 1970 cut in full, swirling through ghostly organ grooves and spiralling rhythm sections with a clarity that feels startlingly fresh. 'Psichefreelico (Sostenuto)' and 'Bacharachico' glide between dreamy lounge and scorched delay-drenched oddness, while 'Africaneidico' pulses with loose Afro-Latin syncopation. Mined from Italy's golden age of library music and remastered from mono tapes, it's a masterclass in instrumental storytellingivivid, woozy and totally transportive.
Review: Lounge singer Richard Cheese presents his 28th studio album and it is a heartfelt collection of melancholy saloon ballads styled after classic Frank Sinatra Capitol Records concept albums. Featuring 12 newly recorded tracks for 2024, the album pairs Cheese's sincere vocals with rich orchestrations and wistful piano and super covers along the way including Radiohead's 'Lucky,' The Offspring's 'Self Esteem,' R.E.M.'s 'South Central Rain,' Harry Styles' 'As It Was' and Lana Del Rey's 'The Greatest.' It makes for a record full of soulful, nostalgic interpretations.
Review: Frollen Music Library is a premium sample library and production house focused on live ensemble recordings and analogue production techniques. Drawing inspiration from the 60s and 70s - which is of course - the era that shaped hip-hop sampling, it provides producers with accessible, high-quality sample packs. Founded by long-time collaborators Darvid Thor, Henry Jenkins and Hudson Whitlock who are all active members of Melbourne's soul scene, the library offers a rich collection of sounds perfect for film, television and music productions. It's an essential resource for fans of artists like David Axelrod and Ennio Morricone and also makes for a good standalone listen.
Review: Frollen Music Library is a high-quality sample library and production house specialising in live ensemble recordings and analogue production techniques. It has a creative process rooted in a love for 60s and 70s music, the foundational sounds for hip-hop sampling, so offers producers easy-to-use sample packs. Created by long-time collaborators Darvid Thor, Henry Jenkins and Hudson Whitlock who are members of Melbourne's soul scene, Frollen Music Library is a rich sound source for productions and compositions in film and television and a go-to resource for fans of artists like David Axelrod and Ennio Morricone. It also works as an evocative mental trip when listened to from back to front.
Review: When it comes to hunting the very of best library music cuts out there, De Wolfe's discography is likely the best place to start, and finish. The British music production company were the first to license such music exclusively for film and TV and thus single-handedly popularised the now DJ's favourite genre. Here on this reissue, Aussie producer, musician and double bassist Johnny Hawksworth (one of two famous library musician "hawks", only once removed from the perhaps more eminent Alan Hawkshaw), prizes open both falcon's eyes and auriculars: 'Bite Hard Breaks', the star, makes for an unfathomably cool piece for the playing of seductive games. Unsurprisingly, but with this fact not known to many, this record has been much sampled by hip-hop titans, from Beyonce to Drake to Jay Z to Madlib.
San Francisco Blues: San Francisco/Street Scene/Money Honey/Westinghouse Elevators/Old Age/Praised Be Man/The Sad Turtle (Medley) (2:22)
Lucien Midnight: The Sounds Of The Universe In My Window (Excerpt 1 & 2) (1:56)
History Of Bop (10:55)
The Subterraneans (6:23)
Visions Of Neal (Neal & The Three Stooges) (13:52)
Review: Kerouac's third and final album, originally released on the Verve label in 1960, saw him ditching the jazz accompaniment that its two predecessors - Poetry for the Beat Generation and Blues and Haikus - boasted, instead concentrating on the musicality of his craft in its rawest form. One critic at the time even likened his voice to a saxophone in full flow. Readings from several of Kerouac's famous works Desolation Angels, San Francisco Blues and his landmark novel On the Road are included among the mesmerising selection here, all delivered direct from the source.
Review: The fifth instalment of Dischi Fantom's Sussurra Luce series presents an expanded version of Hanne Lippard's Talk Shop. Blurring the boundaries between text, music and voice, the Berlin-based artist creates a sensory experience through repeated loops of words and sentences. Lippard draws from the digital economy's commodification of the human voice and explores themes of efficiency, stress and anonymity in both public and private life. With a dada-esque approach, Talk Shop mixes orality, textuality and repetition in intriguing ways. It makes for a striking, immersive work of conceptual art and sound poetry.
Review: This is the first-ever reissue of Gianni Marchetti's 1978 LP Solstitium, which was originally released as part of RCA's "Original Cast" series in limited promo copies and has long been considered one of the most rare and enigmatic pieces of Italian library music. Library music was primarily created for television, radio and film but often yielded hidden gems that fused jazz, lounge and soul into storytelling vignettes of sounds. Marchetti's wonderful Solstitium is a prime example of innovation within this space which rightly remains a classic in the history of Italian music.
Review: Gianni Marchetti's 1977-78 LPs Equinox and Solstitium are truly rare gems from Italy's library music scene. Long thought lost, these tracks were unearthed from original DAT tapes and remastered for vinyl. They are loved for their ethereal, imaginative compositions as Marchetti's work blends driving rhythms, lush strings and intoxicating jazz sounds that offer a cinematic, dreamy feel. These albums, previously promotional-only and still highly coveted by collectors, now shine as part of Dialogo's initiative exploring RCA's "Original Cast" series. They lay bare the brilliance of Italian library music.
Review: Marie Guerin, or maybe you know her as Marie de la Nuit, is a sound artist who has explored field recordings, radio archives and "hertzian ghosts" for almost a quarter of a century since her debut in 2001. Her work blends voices, textures and ambient sounds that examine sound heritage and its preservation. Transportees is an electroacoustic composition that connects archaic and electronic trance and in doing so weaves a musical thread from Brittany to Tunisia. It follows a trance-like journey through recordings and oral traditions, all rooted in Guerin's passion for archives. The album reflects her fascination with capturing and preserving songs and transforming them into a soundscape that bridges past and present.
Review: The sound of Medline exploring the deeper edges of electronic music, crafting a sonic landscape that's both hypnotic and evocative. 'The Edge' is a journey through atmospheric textures, pulsating rhythms and subtle melodies, creating a mesmerising soundscape that's perfect for late-night listening or introspective moments. The production is pristine, with each sound carefully crafted to create a sense of depth and immersion.
Review: The Natural Yogurt Band, purveyors of enigmatic library music, return with their eighth release, a cosmic odyssey that pushes the boundaries of their signature sound. Joined by keyboardist Huw Rees aka The Oracle, the band ventures into a richer galaxy of sonic exploration. 'Projections' sets the stage with its warped organs and gritty drum breaks, while 'Altered States' and 'Bio Morphic Patterns' delve deeper into the cosmic unknown, their swirling melodies and hypnotic rhythms evoking the vastness of space. 'Messages' and 'Nebulous' offer moments of introspection, their ethereal textures and ambient soundscapes creating a sense of otherworldly wonder. On the flipside, 'Perception' and 'Poly Morph' continue the exploration, their pulsating rhythms and experimental soundscapes challenging the listener's perception of reality. 'Existence' and 'Dimensions' close out the journey, their expansive sounds and philosophical undertones leaving a lasting impression. This is a must-listen for those seeking a unique and thought-provoking musical experience.
Review: Oscar 'Sholto' Robertson's album Letting Go of Forever prides itself on being an expansive musical journey, building on the momentum of his critically acclaimed EP 'The Changing Tides Of Dreams'. This 26-track double LP reflects Sholto's rich influences, from Mozart's dramatic 'Lacrimosa' to David Axelrod's eclectic productions. The album's initial tracks, including the evocative 'For The Love Of Stripes' and the atmospheric 'Ligurian Storm', are a signature blend of orchestral and instrumental artistry. 'For The Love Of Stripes' features lush strings and choral elements, interwoven with flutes and percussion to create a nostalgic, dreamy vibe. The track is inspired by the concept of stripes as both a visual divider and a symbol of individuality, which Sholto translates into a stunning musical narrative. 'Ligurian Storm' tells the story of a stormy journey through Italy, combining harp, vibraphone, and synths to evoke the beauty and drama of nature's transformation. Drawing comparisons to the Cinematic Orchestra and Surprise Chef, Sholto's work merges the soulful warmth of jazz and the experimental spirit of 60s and 70s soundtracks. This album should resonate with emotional depth and cinematic flair for anyone who listens.
Phongsri Woranuch - "The Farmstead Awaits You" (3:09)
Chen Yenkhae - "Poor Homeless People" (2:56)
Nanta Pitanilapalin & Naris Aree - "Love Me For A Long Time" (3:48)
Suwanna Seneewong - "Beyond Desire" (2:48)
Review: This is a wonderful collection of Phleng Thai sakon, a style of Thai popular song that fuses local and Western influences. Recorded from the end of WWII to the early 1960s, these tracks are part of the Luk krung genre which contrasts with rural Luk thung. Following the 1930s Thai cultural revolution, Western elements like jazz were incorporated into Thai music and transformed folk melodies into dances like ramwong. This compilation showcases the polished, urbanized Luk krung style, though some tracks touch on rural themes. Despite Western influences, many tracks retain strong ties to traditional Thai music and create romantic, beguiling arrangements.
Li Li Hua & Yan Hua - "A Thousand Birds Facing The Phoenix" (3:12)
Zhou Xuan - "Age Of Bloom" (2:50)
Bai Guang - "Waiting For Your Return" (3:30)
Wu Yingyin - "The Moonlight Sends My Lovesickness Across A Thousand Miles" (2:21)
Wang Renmei - "Song Of The Fishermen" (2:44)
Yao Lee & Yao Min - "Congratulations, Congratulations" (2:23)
Bai Hong - "Suzhou Nocturne" (3:11)
Zhou Xuan & Han Langen - "Mahjong Classic" (2:35)
Yao Lee - "Lovesick Tears" (3:05)
Gong Qiuxia - "The Girl By The Autumn Water" (2:40)
Yuan Meiyun - "The Most Beautiful Boy" (2:38)
Zhou Xuan & Yan Hua - "New Life Of Love" (3:03)
Yao Lee & Yao Min - "Oh Susan" (3:15)
Du Jie - "Chinese New Year Song" (3:32)
Zhang Jing, Zhou Xuan & Li Mingjian - "Bells" (3:00)
Qu Yunyun - "Simple Life" (2:48)
Liu Qi - "Tired Of Dancing" (2:59)
Bai Guang - "Expectation" (3:09)
Review: We bloody love the Death Is Not The End label. It's the sort of outlet that vinyl lovers fawn over because it only deals in fascinating sounds from lesser-known musical worlds. Enter this latest project: Shidaiqu, meaning "songs of the era," emerged in 1920s Shanghai as a fusion of Western pop, jazz, blues and Hollywood soundtracks with traditional Chinese elements. This hybrid genre shaped a golden age of Chinese popular music and film during the pre-Communist interwar period. This record anthologises shidaiqu's evolution, from Li Jinhui's pioneering 1927 song 'Drizzle' sung by his daughter Li Minghui to polished 1930s-40s works by the Seven Great Singing Stars, including Zhou Xuan and Bai Guang. A wonderful trip into the unknown.
Review: The latest record to waft from the Four Flies feeding ground focuses on Paolo Zavallone, an elusive musician and patron of the DIY music label Paloma Records, which only saw five records released. After venturing into the world of music publishing in 1983, Zavallone would either produce licensed-for-film music himself, or consign the task to his peers, chiefly his friend Mauro Malavasi. This record, made up of a quint of nameless, coverless records, captures the highlights of the sottofondi style, i.e. incidental music made largely for early 80s Italian comedy series on TV. Easy listening fusion blends with pots-and-pans avant-gardism ('Cronaca Nera' particularly), proving the remarkably prescient range of an obscure musician.
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