Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Four Flies presents a gem for vinyl collectors with the 7" release of Riz Ortolani's soundtrack highlights from Confessione di un commissario di polizia al procuratore della Repubblica. Side-1's 'Serena e Lomunno' showcases an exceptional quartet's jazzy spell, weaving bass, electric guitar, drums, and piano into a standout groove. On Side-2, Il ricordo di Serena continues the magic with a trio, maintaining the rhythmic essence while sacrificing none of the brilliance. The interplay of bass and drums is the backbone, adorned by electric guitar and piano's refined phrasings. The result? Irresistible jazz-funk breaks, ripe for sampling. A must-have addition to Four Flies' series of 45s celebrating Italy's golden age soundtracks and library productions, this release is essential for any serious Italian sound enthusiast's collection.

Review: Latest in the Italian soundtrack reissues crop comes this pair of tracks from the soundtrack of Un Uomo Dalla Pelle Dura (The Boxer), a 1972 film directed by Franco Prosperi and starring Robert Blake and Catherine Spaak. Composed by Carlo Pes - who was also the guitarist of the infamous quartet I Marc 4, who probably played on this session as well - 'The Riff' and 'Bossa Party' are are light-footed, drum-led funk number and a piano-led supernova respectively. Perfect accompaniments for the subject of a disgruntled boxer fighting for his dignity.

Review: The late Italian film composer Armando Trovajoli was best known for his Italian expressionist / exploitation soundtracks. It's not so known that he made funk: 'Sessomato' and 'Kinky Peanuts' is as such a lesser known rarity, and consists of two made as part of his soundtrack to the film Sessomatto. With vocals from Edda Dell'Orso, the two tracks here are whispry, clean, tambourine-rattling and erotic; trumpets and drums buzz away on the A, while the B opts for clavichordy samba goodness.

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.

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: 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 last full length we had from Federico Amorosi and Valerio Lombardozzi, AKA Dressel Amorosi, was a pretty scary place to spend time. Themed around late-mid-20th Century Italian horror movies (see: Dario Argento), the record paid homage to the iconic sounds of that culture, but also refused to simply rehash the past. An atmospheric, spine-tingling collection of suspenseful synth-first stuff, it also benefited from landing around the same time as a new Stranger Things series. A year on and things are now on a slightly less tense route. Spectrum is still looking to offer thanks to the Italian film industry as was a few decades back - specifically for gifting us so many amazing soundtracks. But this time round we're much closer to the glam and glitz of a Roma Italo party than anything like the Upside Down, while still packing depth and atmosphere.

Review: Composers, writers, multi-instrumentalists, TV and movie producers. In the grand schemes of lives you which you'd led, Guido and Maurizio De Angelis are certainly up there. The multifarious Italian creatives, sometimes known as Oliver Onions, epitomise the risk taking and daring that dominated culture during their most prominent years, the late-1970s and early-1980s, seemingly wanting to try everything, exceed in as much as possible, and constantly experiment. The score to Squadra Antifurto, or Hit Squad in English, is a case in point. At times, it feels like we're gazing adoringly at the Beautiful Country itself, accordions and organs ringing out, often in jaunty, uptempo forms, or more sombre, or at last reflective tunes. At other times, it's a staccato cacophony of drama, high tempo sonic collages that do their best to drive us to the next scene. You won't forget it in a hurry.

Review: Four Flies has released an extraordinary vinyl edition of Mario Migliardi's soundtrack for Matalo!, a unique score that breaks all the conventions of the Spaghetti Western genre. This 1970 film by Milanese director Cesare Canevari features a dark, atmospheric take on the traditional Western, with minimal dialogue and visually experimental techniques that elevate the music to the forefront. Migliardi, a versatile composer, conductor, and Hammond organist, blends psych-rock, electronic textures, and concrete sounds into a compelling auditory experience. Drawing on influences from Jimi Hendrix to Luciano Berio, he mixes acoustic guitars and folk percussion with innovative electronic processing, creating a sound that feels both groundbreaking and timeless. The album's centerpiece is a nine-minute hard blues rock jam featuring vocals by Giano Ton (Giacomo Tosti), finally available on vinyl in its extended version. The score's dynamic phaser effects, created with a Leslie filter, add to the soundtrack's distinctiveness and its packaging - in a beautifully designed gatefold jacket by Eric Adrien Lee - adds a great visual touch to the overall package.

Review: Four Flies has unearthed a long-lost gem: Gianfranco Reverberi's daring soundtrack to Rivelazioni, a notorious 1973 film by director Renato Polselli. Reverberi, known for producing legends like Lucio Dalla and Gino Paoli, initially distanced himself from the film's controversial themes by releasing the music under a pseudonym. Yet, Rivelazioni's score, with its driving rhythms and experimental edge, shines as a bold, innovative creation. The soundtrack features an impressive use of electronic instruments, including drum machines and spacey synths, alongside psychedelic flutes, piano and jazzy improvision. 'Psicolimite', originally released under the name Sharon Chatam, has become a coveted rarity, sparking excitement around the full soundtrack's reissue. Recovered from original 1-inch, 16-track tapes, the score has been remastered for both vinyl and digital formats. With a raw, relentless rhythm section and dark, atmospheric vibes, this soundtrack is an essential find for fans of Italian genre cinema and daring experimental music. Available now as a double LP with stunning artwork, Rivelazioni finally gets its well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

Review: One of Giuliano Sorgini's finest and most sought-after titles, Scappo Per Cantare, is finally available as an official LP reissue, and the first ever to be remastered from the original tapes. Originally released in 1971 on the small library music imprint FAMA - which operated as a sub-label of RCA Italy - the record contains the original music written for Scappo Per Cantare, a small, pseudo-psychedelic 'musicarello' (musical comedy film) broadcast on RAI television. Despite this seemingly innocuous commission, the music - though he's uncredited, it was made in collaboration close confidant Alessandro Alessandroni - is incredibly surreal, and a psychedelic treat for anyone seeking crisp, chordophonal-compositional mastery distilled on record.

Review: Four Flies thrillingly reissues Piero Umiliani's soundtrack to the 1969?giallo thrille Orgasmo (curiously retitled Paranoia in English speaking countries), the firstof three erotically charged? ilms directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring cult siren (and Oscar nominee) Following the first ever release of this OST in 2020, this follow-up version hears Four Flies top up the release with a fuller restoration, after some serious detective work in the composer's archives revealed a post-hoc salvaging of the original tapes, where they where first thought to be lost or unusable. Bringing Umiliani's score back to life for all to enjoy, Orgasmo perfectly captures the stylish and sleazy vibe of Lenzi's film, its acid-drenched visuals, and its themes of sick psychological mind games (courtesy of the devious characters played by Swedish enfant terrible Lou Castel and?French beauty?Colette Descombes).