Back catalogue: Library/Archive

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: Holy Basil turn their attention back to the rich seam of Italian library music with this choice reissue of Alessandro Alessandroni's Storie Di Guerra, originally released in 1972 on Octopus Records. It's a magical collection of themes and incidentals which range from psychedelic piano sequences to oddly angled cellos and squalling guitars, offering some of the edgiest material Alessandroni ever committed to tape. It's meant to evoke the sense of war, so you get the picture about the atmosphere the library music giant was aiming for when he recorded this one.

Review: This is a crucial reissue of another much sought after record by the revered Alessandro Alessandroni. Originally released in a few hundred copies on the cult Sermi imprint in February 1968, it features famous vocals from his wife that cane best described as scat over Italian Library music beats. Jazz styles, bouncy breaks groovy pop, lounge moods, big bossa tunes and much more all feature along the most absorbing of musical trips. This is a true landmark of the genre and one of many classics from this wizard.

Review: Much of Alessandro Alessandroni's material is just being rediscovered now, thanks to all these reissues out of the Spettro New label. It's a deserved act, because the Italian multi-instrumentalist is a true pioneer of experimental music who, for one reason or another, never really permeated into the minds of leftfield enthusiasts in the same way as other like-minded musicians of the time. Il Tempo Dello Spirito is from 1971 and, alongside the plethora of his other albums, is a marvel; the album is a spiritual journey from start to end, and one that is capable of causing a tear to shed from the eyes of even the most string-hearted. Made up of apocrypha hymns, it is themes stirring, open-minded interpretation of church music that we've ever heard. A truly fascinating experience.