Alessandro Alessandroni - Alessandroni Proibito (Music from Red Light Films 1977-1980) (2022)

All tracks remastered from the original master tapes Alessandro Alessandroni is no longer remembered simply as 'the whistler' in Morricone's spaghetti western soundtracks – and rightly so, since he was the key figure behind much of Italian 'secret music' from the 60s and 70s, always there in the studio during recording sessions, whether as a multi-instrumentalist or as the leader of session vocal group I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni. Today his pervasive presence and important role has been finally recognized by music professionals and enthusiasts alike, so much so that he is now considered the true father of Italian library music – a genre whose sound he shaped since 1968.

As a film composer, Alessandroni often worked for small productions that had very limited (and often regional-only) distribution, and whose budgets were worlds apart from those in the 'top league' where friends and colleagues like Morricone, Bacalov, Trovajoli or Piccioni thrived. Rarely released as a soundtrack, this music ended up, at best, forgotten inside dusty ¼-inch reels or, at worst, disappearing into thin air.
After a string of releases that have brought back to life forgotten or lost works by Alessandroni (Sangue di Sbirro, Afro Discoteca, Lost and Found, etc.), it was pretty natural for us at Four Flies to start delving into a little investigated area of his filmography: his scores for erotic films, the last genre to gain popularity in the flourishing Italian film industry of the 60s and 70s, and perhaps the most extreme too, the one that, by pushing things too far, eventually put an end to that industry and its genres.

Taking an artisanal approach to his musical craft, Alessandroni was not afraid of having to deal with spicy subject matter, wobbly productions, implausible plots, improvised actors, or cinematographers who were clearly no disciples of Storaro. And he was so good at making a virtue out of necessity, at turning budget constraints into creative advantages, that he created soundtracks that far surpass the films' quality, with music that at once captures and elevates the spirit of the erotic genre as if into a condensed symbol.

More specifically, the maestro recorded many of the pieces in a DIY fashion at home, using a 4-track Teac tape machine to arrange his compositions. The Teac allowed him to play different instruments on each track, which meant he could basically put an entire soundtrack together all by himself, or almost all by himself.

These recordings often feature drum machines – which provide that retro, early electronic music vibe – as well as funk guitars and exotic-sounding percussion in the rhythm tracks. In addition, there is an extensive, almost bewildering use of synthesizers to replace solo instruments that would have required a paid session player. On top this minimalist arrangement, Alessandroni layered what he could: some piano chords, a little flute and, most importantly, his signature 12-string guitar phrasing.

The result is just stunning: a unique mixture of electronic music and acoustic instruments, in a style that stops short of kitsch and ranges from cinematic ambient pieces like "Tensione erotica" to disco-funk tracks like "Snake Disco" and "One Sunday Morning", both of which feature vocals by Alessandroni himself.

Tracklist
01 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Il Quarto Tipo (From "Incontri molto ravvicinati… del quarto tipo") (2:24)
02 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Misterioso Spaziale (From "Incontri molto ravvicinati… del quarto tipo") (2:10)
03 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Tensione Erotica (From "Incontri molto ravvicinati… del quarto tipo") (1:41)
04 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Snake Disco (From "Emanuelle a Tahiti") (2:24)
05 - Alessandro Alessandroni - One Sunday Morning (From "Emanuelle a Tahiti") (2:55)
06 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Uno Yacht A Tahiti (From "Emanuelle a Tahiti") (2:30)
07 - Alessandro Alessandroni - L'Isola Del Piacere (From "Emanuelle a Tahiti") (2:55)
08 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Chimera (From "Lulù la sposa erotica") (1:34)
09 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Lulù 77 (From "Lulù la sposa erotica") (1:31)
10 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Strip Elettrico (From "Lulù la sposa erotica") (2:00)
11 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Harem Voyeur (From "Lulù la sposa erotica") (1:17)
12 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Casanova Sintetico (From "La parte più appetitosa del maschio") (1:44)
13 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Impronte Digitali (From "La parte più appetitosa del maschio") (1:24)
14 - Alessandro Alessandroni - Il Cavaliere Elettrico (From "La parte più appetitosa del maschio") (1:05)