Back in stock: Library/Archive

Review: After the success of the first Alessandroni Proibito box set, which sold out in pre-sale before it even hit the stores, Four Flies is proudly back with Volume 2 of the compilation. This new release too features five exclusive 7" singles, housing a total of ten seriously rare tunes. All previously unreleased in physical format, the tracks have been carefully selected from the soundtracks of five obscure Italian films from the late 70s - sexy flicks that flirted with the line between erotic and explicit, and which are now largely forgotten, having been out of circulation for decades. As was the case with the previous volume of the compilation, Alessandroni's music rises above the films' flimsy plots, improvised actors, and amateurish production, exuding his distinctive touch thanks to the (typically Italian) artisanal approach he took to his musical craft. The composer let his creativity run free, playing with his instruments at home as if he were in his own little amusement park; trying to have fun and produce something entertaining and captivating with just the few means at his disposal.

Review: The Cromagnon Band's debut 7" back in 2019 was a sell-out and critically acclaimed success. They make a welcome return here with another natural fusion of all of the tastes and styles of the individual band members. They have said before they make music in a reverse engineering fashion after years honing their skills producing beats on MPCs before moving to real instruments. They've already featured on compilations from Andy Votel and Doug Shipton's Finder Keepers label and these two nuggets are likely to become crate-digging delights of the future. 'Green Smoke' is a tumble of funky drums and jazzy keys that never let up and 'Thunder Perfect' is a deeper, more spacious approach to funk.

Review: Larry Manteca's Zombie Mandingo album arrived back in 2013 and in the danced plus has only ever been available digitally. Now it makes its debut on wax and remains a bold listen that was devised as a soundtrack to a non-existent exploitation film. It fuses funk, jazz, and Afrobeat influences with plenty of niche cinematic references such as the zombies in Lucio Fulci's horrors and Umberto Lenzi's cannibalistic adventures. The resulting mash up is beguiling to say the least with horror-tinged exotica next to Fela Kuti rhythms and elements of Italian Library music and colourful psychedelia. A boundary pushing work to say the least.

Review: Roger Webb was an accomplished composer and songwriter in the 60s and 70s who wrote for the likes of Shirley Bassey, Johnny Mathis, and Bette Davis, but he also turned his hand to some outstanding library works such as this bright and breezy LP from 1971. With vocals from Barbara Moore (also noted for working with Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones), Vocal Patterns is a mixed bag that veers from kitsch 60s pop to melancholic reflections and more besides. If you want a portal back to a different era, this record will sweep you off your feet and land you right back there.

Review: Four Flies present another masterpiece from one of the all-time greats of Italian soundtrack and library music, Piero Umiliani. His work on the 1974 film Il Corpo ranks amongst his most famous work, and now two pieces have been selected from the soundtrack and presented on this exclusive single. 'Chaser' on the A side appears in an exclusive extended form which has never been released before, while 'Hard Times' on the flip remains the archetype of Italian jazz-funk perfection. This is a limited edition so don't hang around as these are sure to fly out.