EGISTO MACCHI Vinyl & CDs

Review: The 1968 film 'Gangsters 70', also known as 'Days Of Fire', is a lesser-known classic Italian crime thriller directed by Mino Guerrini. Something of a lost relic in the genre, we're surprised that it's taken this long for the soundtrack, composed by Egisto Macchi, to be reissued alone for the first time here. The stylistic fusion of free improvisation, abstract electronic ornaments and jazz lends well to the film's noir, thrill-of-the-chase overtones, and will surely be a favourite of just about any and every lover of free, abstract musics. The soundtrack also tapers off into horrific, screechy directions, reflecting the ever-unfurlingly paranoid mood of the flick.

Review: There seems to be a renewed interest in modern classical right now if the number of such records we're finding on our mat is anything to go by. The Cinedelic label out of Italy has got a great one on its hands here as Egisto Macchi serves up Asia. It is a glorious symphony of sound with sweeping strings, layers of rich percussion and a cinematic sense of story telling. After the uplifting opener there are more moody pieces like 'Il Buddy' with its gloomy atmosphere and life affirming sounds on 'Ceylon'.