Matalo! Yellow T-Shirt

Yellow T-Shirt Gildan Heavy Cotton 100%

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Matalo! Black T-Shirt

Black T-Shirt Gildan Heavy Cotton 100%

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Matalo! Collector’s Bundle (Gatefold 2LP + T-Shirt)

Bundle contains:
– Limited Edition Double Gatefold Vinyl LP
– Black/Yellow T-Shirt Gildan Heavy Cotton 100%

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Confessione Di Un Commissario Di Polizia Al Procuratore Della Repubblica

Limited edition 7″

Out on June 7th, 2024

SIDE A1: Serena e Lomunno
SIDE B1: Il Ricordo Di Serena


For the first time on 7’’, the two grooviest tracks from the soundtrack composed by Riz Ortolani for “Confessione di un commissario di polizia al procuratore della Repubblica” (aka, “Confessions of a Police Captain”), the renowned 1971 crime drama by Damiano Damiani, starring Franco Nero at the peak of his career.

On Side A, “Serena e Lomunno” is a jazzy spell performed by an exceptional quartet – unfortunately uncredited – consisting of bass, electric guitar, drums, and piano. On Side B, the quartet reduces to a trio (sacrificing the piano) to give life to “Il ricordo di Serena,” without losing any of the rhythmic essence infused in the previous track.

In both cases, the pieces’ structure is entirely supported by the perfect interplay of bass and drums, with particularly striking and sharp timbres, complemented by electric guitar and piano with their refined phrasings.

The result? A succession of irresistible and elegant jazz-funk breaks, practically tailor-made for sampling.

This is an essential addition to the series of 45s that Four Flies is dedicating to the best Italian golden age soundtrack and library productions. A must-have for any serious Italian sound digger!

 


AFRICAMORE ★ CD VERSION

CD Digipak

Out on March 22, 2024

TRACKLIST:
1. Walter Rizzati – L’Unica Chance (1973)
2. Chrisma – Amore (1976)
3. Robots – Tabù Tubà (Part 1) (1976)
4. Luca D’Ammonio – Oh Caron (1973)
5. Ramasandiran Somusundaram – Contrabbando di Fagioli (1975)
6. Jean Paul & Angelique – Africa Sound (1975)
7. Weyman Corporation – Kumbayero (1976)
8. Weyman Corporation – Kumbayero (1976)
9. African Revival – Soul Makossa (1973)
10. Lara Saint Paul – The Voodoo Lady (1973)
11. Beryl Cunningham – Why O (1978)
12. Augusto Martelli & The Real McCoy – Calories (1977)
13. Prognosi Riservata – M.A.A.G.O. (1977)


Africamore: The Afro-Funk Side of Italy (1973-1978)

Continuing Four Flies’ dedication to delving into lesser-explored periods of Italian music, Africamore takes us on a captivating journey into the intersection of Afro-funk and the Italian soundscape during the six years between 1973 and 1978 – a time when disco was looming on the horizon and the nightclub market was rapidly expanding.

Before reaching Italian shores, the infectious sound originating from African and Afro-Caribbean roots traversed both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, landing on New York dancefloors, where DJ Dave Mancuso discovered “Soul Makossa” by Manu Dibango. In 1973, from Mancuso’s Loft parties, the song’s hypnotic groove spread to the rest of the globe, including in Italy, where it sparked a wave of imitations and variations.

Tribal influences thus found their way into Italian soul-funk and early-disco productions released between 1973 and 1978 – from psychedelic-tinged tunes like Jean Paul & Angelique’s “Africa Sound” to the Afrobeat-inspired club banger “Kumbayero” by composer/producer Albert Verrecchia (aka Weyman Corporation); and from groundbreaking Afro-cosmic songs like Chrisma’s “Amore”, co-written by Vangelis and featuring the rhythms of Ghanaian-British Afro-rock band Osibisa, to mind-blowing floor-fillers like Beryl Cunningham’s “Why O”, a re-write of Nat King Cole’s “Calypso Blues” arranged by Paolo Ormi, with percussion breaks that sound pretty much like what would later become known as techno.

Combining feel-good vibes with driving rhythms, world-style percussion, and even synths, all these productions pushed the boundaries of dance music at a time when disco had not yet taken over. In doing so, they sowed many of the seeds of the later Italian cosmic scene and its unique mixture of African elements, disco-funk and electronic music.

This was a brief but nuanced period in Italian music history, one that deserves to be rediscovered, with love.

Africamore is due out on March 22nd and will be available as a gatefold 2LP and digipak CD. Both formats come with stunning artwork by Kathrin Remest and liner notes by Pierpaolo De Sanctis and Elena Miraglia.


New Levels (feat. Illa J) / Chartreuse

Limited edition 7″ – 500 copies

Out on January 26th, 2023

SIDE A: New Levels (feat. Illa J)
SIDE B: Chartreuse

 


ITALIAN LIBRARY GEM RE-IMAGINED BY BEATMAKER KORALLE AND RAPPER ILLA J

Four Flies is proud to present a new installment in the RELOVED series, ‘New Levels / Chartreuse’, with an original track from late-70s Italian ensemble Modern Sound Quartet and a rework from producer and beatmaker Koralle featuring iconic rapper Illa J.

In keeping with the aim of the series, which is to put a modern and urban spin on tunes from Italian golden age soundtracks and library music, Koralle has used the unique jazz-funk sound of the original sample to create a smooth and stylish hip-hop beat to which Illa J adds irresistible swag and coolness. More than a remix, ‘New Levels’ is a new composition that takes ‘Chartreuse’ into the world of contemporary hip-hop and rap.

Lorenzo Nada, aka Koralle, is a musician, beatmaker and producer from Bologna, Italy. Nada is best known for his project Godblesscomputers, which kicked off a couple of years ago while he was living in Berlin. After releasing four albums/EPs and touring Europe with a four-piece band, Nada is heading into a new direction as Koralle. Firmly rooted in hip-hop, Koralle is taking his jazz crates and field recordings to the studio. Equipped with an array of synths, Rhodes and bass, he creates deeply textured tracks that touch mind, body and soul. “Each beat is like an object found at the bottom of the sea,” says Koralle to describe his music. And adds: “The samples emerge from the depths of my record collection and find a new meaning, transformed, like corals from the bottom of the ocean.”

Rapping on Koralle’s beat is Detroit artist Illa J. Raised in a musical family (his father played piano, his mother sang, and his older brother is the late hip-hop producer J Dilla), he grew up surrounded by jazz, gospel and soul, before building a name for himself as a rapper with a distinctive flow and timbre, but also as a singer and songwriter. Illa J has said of his approach to lyric writing that “the melody comes first, then I bring the words in, even when I’m rapping, you know rhythmically. I’m a singer, so melody comes first, but in terms of the subject matter, the music tells you.”

The Modern Sound Quartet was an ensemble led by Milanese pianist and composer Oscar Rocchi. It included Rocchi on keys, Andrea Surdi on drums, Ernesto Verardi on guitars, and Luigi Cappellotto on bass. ‘Chartreuse’ (written by Cappellotto) comes from their 1976 library LP Cocktail Bar – a collection of jazz-funk/jazz-rock/fusion tunes, each named after a famous spirit. While little known to the general public, Cocktail Bar is highly sought after by diggers, DJs and beatmakers.

‘New Levels / Chartreuse’ is the fifth release in the RELOVED series, following Jolly Mare’s retouch of Piero Umiliani’s ‘Discomania’ (12″), Free The Robots’ rework Gianni Safred’s ‘Autumn 2001’ (7″), Dengue Dengue Dengue’s remix of Giuliano Sorgini’s ‘Oasi Nella Giungla’ (7″), and Fratelli Malibu’s reversioning of Alessandro Alessandroni’s ‘Tema di Susie’ (12″). The 7″ releases are co-curated by fellow independent label Little Beat More.
 

 


SPECTRUM FULL COLLECTOR’S BUNDLE

– Black/Orange Gildan Heavy 100% Cotton
– Spectrum LP
– Synthporn / Cargo Ltd ed. 7″

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Tema Di Susie Reloved

12″ Vinyl Black

Out on November 3rd, 2023

TRACKLIST:

A1 – Tema Di Susie Reloved
B1 – Tema Di Susie Reloved (Banda Maje Vocal Retouch)


‘Tema di Susie’ is one of the main themes from the soundtrack composed by Alessandro Alessandroni for the 1976 Italian noir Sangue di sbirro, known in English as Blood and Bullets, as well as Knell, Bloody Avenger (the Susie in the original title refers to the female love interest of the film’s hero, who is on a mission to seek revenge for the gangland murder of his policeman father).
At once sweet and sentimental, haunting and melancholic, ‘Tema di Susie’ stands out from the other tracks in the film, which are more action oriented. Like the rest of the score, however, it exemplifies the way in which, during the ‘70s, Italian film composers created their own version of the sound of American blaxploitation cinema, with its groovy blend of funk, jazz, and soul. It is no coincidence that the film’s director, B-movie specialist Alfonso Brescia, specifically requested music in the style of Shaft, the iconic film that defined that sound in 1971.
Though seemingly simple, ‘Tema di Susie’ is a perfect example of Alessandroni’s style – in particular his unique ability to effortlessly blend groove and melody, funk and feeling, into one musical piece. So, we invited different artists with different backgrounds, influences and approaches to bring their individual take on this elegant and now timeless tune.

Neapolitan duo Fratelli Malibu have taken Alessandroni’s melodic theme and woven it into a mesmerizing tapestry of rhythmic beats, world percussion and ethereal atmospheres. Drawing inspiration from funk/Afrobeat, synth-pop and Italo-disco, they’ve conjured a psychedelic-tinged, afro-cosmic groove that’s bound to transport you to another dimension.
As the music unfolds, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a vibrant, fantasy world. The breaks, outro, and intro are woven with a psychedelic thread that leaves you yearning to return once the final note fades away. And that’s not all – they’ve injected an irresistible pop sensibility into the track with the use of drum machines and synths. The result? A rework that not only amplifies the dreaminess of the original but also seamlessly marries the past with the future.
We love the track so much that we decided to double the fun with a vocal retouch version, courtesy of the Italian funk/soul collective Banda Maje. Their vocalists, Chiara Della Monica and Cristina Cafiero, elegantly infuse cinematic and Balearic vibes into the mix, paying a wonderful homage to Fratelli Malibu’s exquisite arrangement.

 

 

 


Don’t Give Up / Tema Di Susie

Limited edition 7″ – 500 copies

Out on November 3rd, 2023

SIDE A: Don’t Give Up
SIDE B: Tema Di Susie

 


‘Tema di Susie’ is one of the main themes from the soundtrack composed by Alessandro Alessandroni for the 1976 Italian noir Sangue di sbirro, known in English as Blood and Bullets, as well as Knell, Bloody Avenger (the Susie in the original title refers to the female love interest of the film’s hero, who is on a mission to seek revenge for the gangland murder of his policeman father).
At once sweet and sentimental, haunting and melancholic, ‘Tema di Susie’ stands out from the other tracks in the film, which are more action oriented. Like the rest of the score, however, it exemplifies the way in which, during the ‘70s, Italian film composers created their own version of the sound of American blaxploitation cinema, with its groovy blend of funk, jazz, and soul. It is no coincidence that the film’s director, B-movie specialist Alfonso Brescia, specifically requested music in the style of Shaft, the iconic film that defined that sound in 1971.
Though seemingly simple, ‘Tema di Susie’ is a perfect example of Alessandroni’s style – in particular his unique ability to effortlessly blend groove and melody, funk and feeling, into one musical piece. So, we invited different artists with different backgrounds, influences and approaches to bring their individual take on this elegant and now timeless tune.
With his characteristic style, enigmatic French producer Mounika has spun Alessandroni’s dreamy melody into a remix that resonates with the soul.
Right from the first note, Mounika sets the stage for an uplifting journey. The track’s opening, with its hauntingly isolated piano, lays the foundation for what’s to come. As the music swells, you’ll feel an irresistible surge of positivity and motivation, culminating in a joyous crescendo that celebrates the heart of the composition. Along the way, he weaves in elements that are reminiscent of the French touch sound and the bold beats of the late ’90s, all while steering clear of overpowering rhythms or any hint of nostalgic retro vibes.
What emerges is a remix that’s nothing short of a breath of fresh air. It’s the kind of music that not only makes you move but stirs something deep within. Mounika’s touch is like a painter’s brush, layering sonic texture and dynamics to bring new emotional depth to Alessandroni’s masterpiece.

The RELOVED series – is co-curated with fellow independent label Little Beat More.

 

 


Synthporn / Cargo

Limited edition 7″

Out on October 13th, 2023

SIDE A: Synthporn

SIDE B: Cargo


First 7” release from Dressel Amorosi, the duo of Federico Amorosi (bass) and Valerio Lombardozzi (keys, synth & programming). Halfway between cosmic-funk and Italo-disco, the two tracks on this release are infused with the fusion- and electronic-oriented spirit of late ’70s and early ’80s Italian soundtracks and library music.

“Synthporn”, on side A, is a midtempo instrumental with a voluptuous electronic feel, a mixture of glamour and retrofuturism driven by Amorosi’s pulsating bass and Lombardozzi’s elegant oscillators.

“Cargo”, on the flip side, brings infectious ’80s dance vibes to the table with a warm slice of synth-pop that can fit any scenario and filmic mood, from action to comedy.

Housed in a special company sleeve designed by Eric Adrien Lee, the 7” comes ahead of the duo’s album, Spectrum, due out on 17 November 2023.

 


Didattica

LP Vinyl Black

Out on September 29th, 2023

TRACKLIST:

A1 – Bomberz
A2 – Amo’
A3 – Didattica
A4 – Rimm’ ‘a Verità
A5 – Solite Storie (feat. Angelica Cascone)
B1 – Voce ‘E Notte
B2 – Mare
B3 – Funky Shit
B4 – Zetasound


 

Didattica is the first album from Zetas, a female rap duo coming straight out of the city of Salerno, on the south west coast ofItaly. Entirely produced by beatmaker, rapper and DJ/producer Tonico 70, a true veteran of Southern Italian hip-hop,the full-lengthdebut isreleased on DJ’s Choice, a partner label of Four Flies Records.

Born between the 90s and 2000s, rappers Annarella and Miriade were exposed to the world of underground hip-hop from an early age, jamming and freestyling. Rather than going for the sounds of trap and auto-tune that are so popular in their age group, however, they immediately embraced the spirit of old school rap, withitsboom bap vibes. As suggested by the album’s title itself (which translates as ‘teaching’ or ‘learning’) they view of rap as a school – that is, as an art form where constant training is key if you want to stay true to your values and identity.

With the help of producer Tonico 70, Zetas have created a record that is fresh and contemporary, while paying tribute to the past.They rap about everyday urban life in the exuberant dialect and slang of their native city, delivering raw rhymes with a tightand very expressiveflow, while Tonico70 uses a classic sampling approach but also incorporates real instruments into his beats–Antonio D’Apolito’s guitar, Peppe Maiellano’s keyboards, Giuseppe Desiderio’s bass and Giuseppe Limpido’s drums.

The result is an excitingcombination of funk, soul, dub, R’N’B, reggae, and even electronic influences,one where deep bass and syncopated rhythms blend wonderfully with the melody, urgency and authenticity of dialect rhymes.

Out on vinyl LP and digital on 29 September 2023. 

 


Un Uomo Dalla Pelle Dura

Limited edition 7″

Out on September 22th, 2023

SIDE A1: The Riff
SIDE B1: Bossa Party


Releasing Italian soundtrack gems on 7″ has become a mission for Four Flies! This time the label went back to Franco Prosperi’s 1972 film Un uomo dalla pelle dura (known in English as either The Boxer or Ripped-Off) and hand-picked two tracks that were included not in the (now uber-rare) original OST album released on Pegaso/RCA, but in the (even rarer) library album Meedley (sic) released by Carlo Pes a couple of years later, where, needless to say, he was accompanied by his legendary quartet I Marc 4, whose recognizable sound permeates both tunes on this 7″.

Side A contains “The Riff”, a stupendous acoustic-guitar-and-drums break that was later sampled by DJ-producer Nicola Conte for his debut album Jet Sounds (2000). In contrast, side B veers into fancy poolside cocktail party territory with “Bossa Party”, a relaxing, bossa nova-infused jazz tune woven by Carlo Pes’ electric guitar lines and Antonello Vannucchi’s piano phrasing.

It’s a limited edition so don’t sleep on it!

 


Milano: Il Clan Dei Calabresi

Limited edition 7″

Out on September 22nd, 2023

SIDE A1: M2
SIDE B1: M3


Four Flies’ 45s series continues to pay tribute to the golden age of Italian film music, this time with the first 7-inch release ever of two super-groovy themes from Gianni Marchetti’s soundrack to Milano: il clan dei calabresi (known in English as The Last Desperate Hours), a 1974 poliziottesco film directed by Giorgio Stegani.

“M2”, on side A, is a re-versioning of a timeless classic – Quincy Jones’ “Ironside” theme – where the punch of funk comes to the fore and is fused with the acid sound of early 70s Italian prog rock. This combination of jazz-funk and prog rock is found also in “M3”, on side B, which weaves a tapestry of powerful horns and gently weeping guitarover a driving, funk-blues bass line.

A must-have for lovers of rare grooves and poliziottesco films! But don’t wait around, it’s a limited edition!

 


Four Flies 45s Bundle

Including 3×7”:

1 – FLIES 45-41 – Minus Group – BLACK LIGHTS – 7”
2 – FLIES 45-52 – Alessandro Alessandroni – L’ALTRO DIO – 7”
3 – FLIES 45-53 – Paolo Ormi – PROVACI ANCHE TU LIONEL – 7”


Four Flies 45 Reloved Bundle

Including 2×7”:

1) RLV 01 – Free The Robots, Gianni Safred – AUTUMN 2021/AUTUMN 2001 – 7”
2) RLV 04 – Dengue Dengue Dengue, Giuliano Sorgini – OASI NELLA GIUNGLA – 7”