★Holy Basil Records
Special Sound Series – Vol. 4: Summertime
We are very happy to announce the continuation of our reissues of Shigeo Sekitō's iconic "Sepcial Sound" series with its 4th instalment, "Summertime", a radiant musical tapestry woven by the ingenious Japanese musician. Unveiled in the vibrant 1970s, this album radiates with the warmth and effervescence of the summer season, showcasing Sekito's ability to infuse his compositions with a sun-kissed energy and a sense of carefree joy. As the fourth installment in the Special Sound Series, "Summerti…
C 364 - Antico E Moderno
Following our reissue of Silvano Chimenti's classic "Disco Music", we're happy to delve back into the Usignolo catalog with the reissue of C 364, one of the most iconic releases of the series, the incredible "Antico E Moderno" by Mario Molino. Bringing some of the most eccentric, chaotic and spaced out vibes you could hear in the mid 70's, Molino's mind bending arrangements are timeless classics, still standing the test of time and showing how he was way ahead of his time. Literally translating …
Special Sound Series – Vol. 3: Pathétique
We are very happy to continue the reissue series of Shigeo Sekito's iconic "Sepcial Sound" series with its 3rd instalment, "Pathétique", a mesmerizing musical journey crafted by the visionary Japanese musician Shigeo Sekito. Released in the 1970s, this album stands as a testament to Sekito's innovative genius and his ability to seamlessly blend genres, resulting in a captivating and groundbreaking sonic experience. "Pathétique" showcases Sekito's masterful fusion of jazz, funk, and electronic el…
Telegiornale
We're back digging through Flipper's legendary catalog, more precisely in the Octopus Records section, and after bringing back Alessandroni's "Storie Di Guerra" here is the return of Amedeo Tommasi's Telegiornale", released under his Atmo alias. The album opens with a cinematic and suspenseful overture that immediately draws the listener into its world. Tommasi's virtuosic piano playing takes center stage throughout the album, with his nimble fingers crafting intricate melodies that are both ev…
Temi Descrittivi Per Piccolo Complesso
Originally released in 1976 as part of the "Background Music" series on Piero Umiliani's own Liuto Records, "Temi Descrittivi Per Piccolo Complesso" is a real gem in the maestro's vast and and intricate catalogue. Flutes and horns alternate with pianofender to create some magical, sweet and intimate atmospheres, crafting an abstract and mysterious soundscape that could reminisce of medieval times as much as some distant galaxies. We are happy to bring back "Temi Descrittivi Per Piccolo Complesso…
Alchemy In Jazz
Besides being a leading session musician in Milan's jazz scene between the 60s and 90s, Italian pianist Oscar Rocchi created a number of exquisite library albums in the pop-jazz genre. These include among others "Erbe Selvatiche", "Pop-Paraphrenia" and "Woman's Colours" (the latter co-written with his friend Giancarlo Barigozzi) as well as "Alchemy in Jazz", which is now available in digital format for the first time ever. Originally released on Ring, an imprint of Edizioni Minstrel, the album w…
Una Magnum Special Per Tony Saitta
Una Magnum Special Per Tony Saitta (aka. Blazing Magnum: Strange Shadows In An Empty Room) is a cop movie directed in year 1976 by Alberto De Martino and starring Stuart Whitman, Martin Landau, Tisa Farrow, and Gayle Hunnicutt. It was co-produced by Italy and Canada. An Ottawa police captain searches for the person who poisoned his sister, who was attending the university in Montreal. Later on, he desperately starts to use his own brutal methods to find the killer, but the truth turns out to be …
Burnin' Waves
Continue the series of Electric Bird reissues in collaboration with King Record with the a killer jazz-funk release, saxophonist Toshiyuki Honda's "Burnin' Waves", originally released in 1978. Son of jazz critic Toshiyuki Honda, the Japanese composer was a skillful flute and saxophone player, and in the 70's he worked with George Otsuka and the Burning Waves ensemble. In the 1980s he worked with Chick Corea, Tatsuya Takahashi, and Kazumi Watanabe, lead his own ensemble, Super Quartet as well as …
High Tension Vol. 1
Tip! Following the release of Lee Selmoco's "Mosaico" we continue our journey with Vedette Records to bring back to life part of their incredible catalog, with the reissue of the first instalment of the "High Tension" series by Lesiman. Born in Florence in 1935, Paolo Renosto, the man behind the moniker Lesiman, was an incredible composer, experimenter, music teacher and piano player whose amazing skills and sound research brought him to work with Luigi Dallapiccola and Bruno Maderna, as well as…
Mosaico (Le Tastiere Di Lee Selmoco)
Francesco Anselmo, also known as Lee Selmoco, Dorsey Dodd, Alex Brown, Arsenio Bracco or Tommy Ruff, is an Italian keyboardist that covered the role of of artistic director for Vedette Records, historical Italian imprint founded by director and violinist Armando Sciascia, and also recorded for its notorious Phase 6 Super Stereo, its sub-label focused on instrumental records and production music. "Mosaico (Le Tastiere Di Lee Selmoco)" is an incredible display of his creative and composing skills,…
Controfase
Composed by Ennio Morricone alongside friend and frequent collaborator Bruno Nicolai, "Controfase" is one of the most overlooked and lesser known chapters in the maestro's extensive catalog. Various experimental elements perfectly intertwine in these skilful compositions, VCS3 blend with hair-raising violin notes on a pattern of ominous percussions by Egisto Macchi. With the precious help of Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza as well as Edda Dell'Orso angelic voice, the two masterminds h…
Pulsation
On May 27th 1983, drummer Masahiko Togashi and guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, two pivotal figures in the Japanese free jazz scene that had been working together since the 1960's, performed and record this unique set at Zojoji Hall in Tokyo. At the time, Japanese jazz musicians were trying to find their own voice, welcoming creative elements coming in from the USA and Europe. The two musicians were at the fore-front of this generation, with Takayanagi developing his own guitar style through influ…
Storie Di Guerra
Ominous drums, obscure cellos, fuzzy and distorted guitars, psychedelic piano sequences: legendary Italian composer Alessandro Alessandroni creates a somber and gritty war atmosphere on this classic library album "Storie Di Guerra". Originally released on the Octopus Records imprint by Flipper Music in 1972, this obscure and spooky library has been long out of print — 50 years past its release we are happy to bring this back on vinyl in collaboration with Flipper Music as a limited edition of 50…
Un Bianco Vestito Per Mariale'
Big Tip! Directed in 1972 by Romano Scavolini, "Un Bianco Vestito Per Mariale" features a cast with some familiar faces from the Italian thriller genre like Evelyn Stewart and Ivan Rassimov. The film was scored by a great name of the Italian film music scene, Fiorenzo Carpi, whose music was superbly arranged and conducted with his own and unique great style by Bruno Nicolai. Originally released on vinyl by Gemelli in 1975, three years after the release of the movie, this score is dominated by th…
An Old Castle of Transylvania
Originally formed in 1968 under the name The Silencer, Nagoya, Japan progressive rock band Cosmos Factory didn't change their name until their 1983 debut on Nippon Columbia with "An Old Castle Of Transylvania". Loaded with heavy psychedelia and prog rock guitar moments, experimentally blended with the use of Hammond and Mellotron, the band lead by keyboardist / vocalist Tsutomu Izumi takes you on an adventure throughout the dark forests of Transylvania. Throughout the years, the album has become…
Special Sound Series – Vol. 1: Catch in Alice
Considered by many one of the most gifted and outstanding players in the Electone community thanks to his fresh, energetic, rhythmic and sometimes humorous style of playing, from 1975 to 1977 Shigeo Sekitō released a four-LP album set titled Special Sound Series for the iconic Nippon Columbia. On the first chapter of this series, Sekitō revisits, in his own colourful style, compositions such as "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder, "Oh, My Love" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, "Andalu…
Disco Music
Composed by legendary library guitarist and founding member of I Gres, Silvano Chimenti, and accompanied by his orchestra, "Disco Music" is an essential release of the Usignolo catalog and probably one of the most sought after titles of the series. This album displays a broad range of styles masterfully blended together by Chimenti, going from disco-funky bangers "Happy California" and "Autostrade Americane" that lead way to the more dramatic and suspenseful vibes of "Society Problem" and "Trage…
Preistoria
Big Tip! Originally released in 1968 as part of the "Serie Sonorizzazioni" series on Piero Umiliani's iconic Omicron label, "Preistoria" is the perfect example of a library music collection perfectly tailored to a theme. Through the use of orchestral accompaniment, jazzy arrangements, and tribal experimentation thrown in for good measure, the legendary Italian composer brings you back to the stone age, creating and ominous and primitive landscape, rich of caveman-style drums and deep bass lines.…
Dreams For Sax (LP)
Another gem from the extensive Flipper Music catalog, more precisely from their Flower sublabel, "Dreams For Sax" is possibly one of the most stand-out productions from their studio ensemble Gruppo Sound, this time around featuring saxophonist Paolo Russo with keyboardists Stefano Galante and Vittorio Quattrini. First released in 1987, the songs recorded for "Dreams For Sax" are a beautiful melange of easy-listening electronic and jazzy vibes, from mellow tunes such as "Dawning" and "First Class…
Floreama
Following the work previously made on "Cocktail Bar" and "Erbe Selvatiche", Modern Sound Quartet release their third full-length "Floreama" in 1977, this time focusing their work around the world of flowers. The twelve tracks on this recording boast the highest form of Italian jazz-funk vibes, with some rock, disco and spacey moods thrown in for good measure. Each flower sets the track in a different mood and brings the listener in a different dimension, alternating upbeat funky moments to some …