Guest Mix from Antoni Maiovvi
September 16
We present to you today, this rather epic mix by Italo Don DJ Antoni Maiovvi. If you haven't heard of Italo before, it's (usually short for Italo Disco) this kind of super-cheesy 1980s synthy pop-disco music that came out of Italy. It's kind of amazing once you get over the cheese factor. This mix includes some of that, but is much more wide ranging, switching from Soundtrack music, to funk, to Prog, Jazz, Italo, and everything else. It even includes what Maiovvi claims is the best reggae tune ever written. It's in two parts, and I'd suggest perhaps starting with Part 2, as it's the slightly more accessible of the two - but don't forget to check out the track at about 37 minutes in part 1 - awesome funk styles. If it hasn't been sampled for a recent hip hop tune I'll be amazed.
Anyway, over to the man himself to introduce it:
England is a strange place. From the time I became obsessed with cinema it became very apparent that the kind of films I was interested in, you simply couldn’t get legally. Naturally there were ways you could obtain these forbidden images (long before the internet’s prevalence and some classic banned masterpiece was a now only a mouse click away), there was a kudos in social circles from having that videotape, but it was also something you didn’t talk about - if someone asked the right questions, you’d reveal. It was from this that I discovered the work of Argento and Deodato, music from their respective films open and close part 1 (and close part 2) of this journey into psychotronic fantasy. Morricone and Ortolani are unique artists, their use of irregular melodies and chord progressions are as emotionally effective as they are brilliant. It was from film music that I began a love affair with the much hated gargoyle that is Progressive Rock, examples of which are peppered throughout both parts 1 & 2.
Prog has a bad name, this isn’t entirely unjustified, a great deal of the groups from England in the late 60s and 70s produced unfathomably cuntish records. There were exceptions I feel, most notably King Crimson and Henry Cow, both groups took more direction from the free jazz, funk and avant garde scenes than groups like Yes, or the always awful ELP. The interesting situation that arose, much like UK New Wave / Post Punk / Synthpop’s effect on the Italo Disco that was to come out of Europe in the early 80s, was that UK progressive rock had a direct influence on the European rock groups. Heldon (and Ose featured in Part 2, which are essentially the same group) could not have existed, or certainly wouldn’t have sounded the same without the influence of Robert Fripp from King Crimson. The Italian group Goblin would not have taken the direction they had, had it not have been for ELP. Though Goblin’s records, be they soundtracks or not are infinitely superior to anything ELP ever did. It is interesting also to see that Goblin were one of the major influences on the Italo Disco scene as well as the UK pop groups.
This to me is an important lineage. From Jazz to Progressive Rock, through film music we get to the sound and roots of Italo Disco. The difference is commercialism. There is and never will be any doubt that many of the producers of the futuristic dance music that was named Italo did it for the money, while the progressive rock people, though undoubtedly well paid, did it for music. Film music, for a time at least, was a means of boundary pushing, which walked that fine line between absolute commercialism and pure expression. Listen to Ortolani’s string arrangements and then compare them to anything Hans Zimmer or any of the big name Hollywood composers have ever done and you’ll see an intense difference.
Presented here are selections of music that I feel are either ignored or misunderstood. Please sit back and enjoy,
CD1
01 - Ennio Morricone - The Stendhal Syndrome Theme
Well, what can be said about Morricone that hasn't been already said; clearly a genius. I think this score on the whole gets overlooked. The film is about a serial rapist, not a nice subject, so I think most people ignore it. However, it is amazing.
02 - Guy Skornik - Star Peace Odyssee, Temporelle Fausse Alert Maitres
Du Temps Paranoia
I don't honestly know much about this band, I found the album on one of my trawls, I know they are French. They kind of sound like a cross between Goblin and Jacula, but are French. Still, it's cosmified.
03 - Sutcliffe Jugend - (Scene Two- The House) Act I- Fear and Anticipation
This is taken from a concept album about incest. I met one of the guys in London randomly once and though a perfectly pleasant chap, there was an underlying feeling that something was wrong with him. SJ are one of those bands you get what you bring to them. I just really love the sounds in this one. The album is THE VICTIM AS BEAUTY if you want to check more of their stuff out.
04 - Henry Cow - History & Prospects- III. On The Raft
Jazz? Prog? Free Prog Jazz? It sounds like the theme from Taxi Driver, but well, awesomer.
05 - Miles Davis - Black Satin
Bit of an obvious one, though I think it's important to at least try and convince people that On The Corner is Davis' best album. Fuck Bitches Brew.
06 -Franco Micalizzi - Stridulum Theme
One of the strangest films I've ever seen, basically a battle between God and Satan but God and Jesus are from outer space or something. For some reason, big band funk seemed to be the choice of the composer - who am I to argue?
07 - Weidorje - (untitled)
I don't know the title of this track it was from the unreleased 2nd album which is available only as a bootleg, which is why the audio isn't so good. For reference it's pronounced VEY-LORDGE. Great band, also from 70s France, an offshoot of the band Magma. But better.
08 - GAM - Wilderness
A very obscure strange German late 70s Krautrock band, I know nothing really about them. Except they rock, Kraut-like.
09 - Riz Ortolani - Adulteress' Punishement
From the Cannibal Holocaust soundtrack. Listen to that string arrangement. Simply stunning!
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CD2
01 - Magical Ring - Light Flight
I think this band were from Chicago, they sound like a prog rock Boney M or something similar.
02 - Roland Bocquet - Amour 5-5
This guy was a French electronic artist from the early 80s, this is the best reggae song ever written.
03 - Ose - Approche Sur A
Ose were also French, they were also essentially the band Heldon, another offshoot of Magma, very excellent electronic prog.
04 - Micheal Garrison - aurora visage / aurora mist
Garrison died from drinking himself to death a few years ago; his music is still pretty much ignored. It should not be. These tracks are from 1988.
05 - Fockewulf 190 - Gitano
This Italian group from the early 80s got lumped in with the Italo genre, unfairly, I think, as they are more like a new romantic / goth pop band. But don't let that put you off, this track is like a bizarre sea shanty, it is both very funny and awesome.
06 - Michael Garrison - The Search
This is a great track from his first album in 1979.
07 - Heldon - Back To Heldon
I'm getting tired of these now. The synths on this are stunning.
08 - Michael Stearns - Wherever Two Or More Are Gathered
Someone once described this guy's music as womb-like. Quite apt, there are more things happening here than most new-age / prog / ambient stuff, amazing sound detail.
09 - Riz Ortolani - Crucified Woman
Also from Cannibal Holocaust. A really beautiful track which counterpoints the horror, again the string arrangement is to die for.
Get the mix here - http://www.sendspace.com/file/7yr02d
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i.d.
Posted by bassmusic
