VA - Criminale Vol. 1-4 [Soundtrack] (2012-2015)

Thirty-six amazing tracks from the vault of Flipper Music, spread over two volumes. There was something strange and disturbing going on in Italy in the '70s. It was a tumultuous and visionary period of (post-) psychedelic excess. One that was defined, on the one hand, by random acts of terrorism and a heavy military police presence throughout the Italian territory, and on the other, by strobe lights, shattered taboos, and extreme gestures. A singular atmosphere that reverberated throughout every aspect of life -- from fashion, to design, to television, to film, literature, the visual arts, and, of course, music. Perhaps the area in which this feeling was most pervasive was that of the television soundtrack, made to accompany the TV programs of a country that, although in turmoil, was still vital and creative. The tracks found here are a perfect example of this feeling, and come from the large catalog of what is perhaps the most important Italian label in the industry, Flipper Music, which, by the end of the '60s, had published, through its many labels (RTV, Canopo, Octopus, Deneb, Flower, Flirt), hundreds of albums that are now long out-of-print and have become very rare. This music has the unique ability to remind the listener of that feeling of euphoric tension that permeated an entire country. Musical fears and obsessions straight from the most absurd decade of the most absurd country in the Western world. Volume one includes music by Giorgio and Franco Bracardi; Alessandro Alessandroni; Amedeo Tommasi; Peymont; Ugo Busoni, Paolo Ferrara, and Massimo di Cicco; Giuliano Sorgini; Gerardo Iacoucci; Lamartine; Daniela Casa; Joel Vandroogenbroeck; Fabio Frizzi; and Sandro Brugnolini.

Thirty-six amazing tracks from the vault of Flipper Music, spread over two volumes. There was something strange and disturbing going on in Italy in the '70s. It was a tumultuous and visionary period of (post-) psychedelic excess. One that was defined, on the one hand, by random acts of terrorism and a heavy military police presence throughout the Italian territory, and on the other, by strobe lights, shattered taboos, and extreme gestures. A singular atmosphere that reverberated throughout every aspect of life -- from fashion, to design, to television, to film, literature, the visual arts, and, of course, music. Perhaps the area in which this feeling was most pervasive was that of the television soundtrack, made to accompany the TV programs of a country that, although in turmoil, was still vital and creative. The tracks found here are a perfect example of this feeling, and come from the large catalog of what is perhaps the most important Italian label in the industry, Flipper Music, which, by the end of the '60s, had published, through its many labels (RTV, Canopo, Octopus, Deneb, Flower, Flirt), hundreds of albums that are now long out-of-print and have become very rare. This music has the unique ability to remind the listener of that feeling of euphoric tension that permeated an entire country. Musical fears and obsessions straight from the most absurd decade of the most absurd country in the Western world. Volume two includes music by Gerardo Iacoucci; Remigio Ducros; Roberto Conrado; Sandro Brugnolini; Ugo Busoni, Paolo Ferrara, and Massimo di Cicco; Enzo Scoppa; Alessandro Alessandroni; Paolo Ferrara; Alessandro Alessandroni and I Cantori Moderni; Alessandro Alessandroni and Giuliano Sorgini; Daniela Casa; Umberto Santucci; and Piero Montanari and Roberto Conrado.

The decade from 1968 to 1978 had a pivotal importance in Italy's 20th-century history. It was a period of deep social and cultural transformation on the wings of the Berkeley youth protests and the May 1968 protests in France, which then developed in different directions due to the moral contradictions of one of the most conspiratorial countries of the western world. Years of high-tension events -- beginning with the tragic massacre of Piazza Fontana and ending with the infamous kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro -- were reflected in every aspect of society and culture. A palpable tension could be felt both sonically and visually. The soundtrack of this whole world was written in real time by a bunch of enterprising composers, right in the middle of a session for some magical Italian soundtrack or even an appearance alongside the RAI Orchestra (owned by Italy's national broadcasting company), who made little money while recording some instant albums for the most sought-after publishers of libraries. Sonic pictures of the heyday of Italian society, truly distinct from the music made by French, English, or German composers in their respective countries. The sound coming from the Italian television was as sharp as a razor blade and tasted just like lead and tear gas, with howling fuzz guitar and heavy drums to set the tumultuous scene of a society on the verge of implosion. Daniela Casa, Remigio Ducros, Alessandro Alessandroni, Stelvio Cipriani, Enzo Scoppa, Amedeo Tommasi, Franco Tamponi, and the other composers acted as drastic audio reporters as well as incredible musicians. They were able to describe in just few minutes the climax that surrounded them, using their classical heritage and training with hints of the avant-garde, along with the boost of psych-rock, jazz, funk, and whatever other popular musical innovation came their way. Urged to be minimalistic and not so original -- the quintessence of the library dictum -- the Italian composers answered instead with an experimental vocation pushed by that same need for renewal, stimulating the entire nation in those crazy and marvelous years. Released alongside Criminale Vol. 4 - Violenza! (PNY 4511LP). Includes tracks by Gerardo Iacoucci, Mario Vinciguerra, Vittorio Impiglia, Mario Molino, Elvio Monti, Bruno Battisti D'Amario, Franco Tamponi, Amedeo Tommasi, Antonio Riccardo Luciani, Alessandro Alessandroni, Leopoldo Perez-Bonsignore, Mario Pagano, Giovanni Ferroni, Enzo Scoppa, Stelio Subelli, Fernando Marucci, Paolo Ferrara, and Massimo di Cicco.

The decade from 1968 to 1978 had a pivotal importance in Italy's 20th-century history. It was a period of deep social and cultural transformation on the wings of the Berkeley youth protests and the May 1968 protests in France, which then developed in different directions due to the moral contradictions of one of the most conspiratorial countries of the western world. Years of high-tension events -- beginning with the tragic massacre of Piazza Fontana and ending with the infamous kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro -- were reflected in every aspect of society and culture. A palpable tension could be felt both sonically and visually. The soundtrack of this whole world was written in real time by a bunch of enterprising composers, right in the middle of a session for some magical Italian soundtrack or even an appearance alongside the RAI Orchestra (owned by Italy's national broadcasting company), who made little money while recording some instant albums for the most sought-after publishers of libraries. Sonic pictures of the heyday of Italian society, truly distinct from the music made by French, English, or German composers in their respective countries. The sound coming from the Italian television was as sharp as a razor blade and tasted just like lead and tear gas, with howling fuzz guitar and heavy drums to set the tumultuous scene of a society on the verge of implosion. Daniela Casa, Remigio Ducros, Alessandro Alessandroni, Stelvio Cipriani, Enzo Scoppa, Amedeo Tommasi, Franco Tamponi, and the other composers acted as drastic audio reporters as well as incredible musicians. They were able to describe in just few minutes the climax that surrounded them, using their classical heritage and training with hints of the avant-garde, along with the boost of psych-rock, jazz, funk, and whatever other popular musical innovation came their way. Urged to be minimalistic and not so original -- the quintessence of the library dictum -- the Italian composers answered instead with an experimental vocation pushed by that same need for renewal, stimulating the entire nation in those crazy and marvelous years. Released alongside Criminale Vol. 3 - Colpo Gobbo (PNY 4510LP). Includes tracks by Daniela Casa, Remigio Ducros, Piero Montanari, Paolo Ferrara, Massimo di Cicco, Stelvio Cipriani, Franco Tamponi, Stefano Torossi, Sandro Brugnolini, Massimo Catalano, Gerardo Iacoucci, Stelio Subell, Joel V.D.B., Nino Rapicavoli, Enzo Scoppa, and Alessandro Alessandroni.