Monday, December 22, 2014

Gianni E I Suoi Solisti (Gianni Mazza & Friends) -"Musiche Di Immagini"-SMAG 04-Magma Holy Grail Italo Prog, Disco Library!

   One of the most mythical and obsure italian labels you can find, Magma SMAG series.  You can read more about the label here.  Apparently they released these 7 records with a library appeal accompanied by a generic cover.  Funny enough the writer for that website writes off these releases as lightweight instrumental pop, not to hate on ones taste but a very misguided critique I think, haha.  I was lucky enough to pick up 3 of these records, where I will shed some light and sound for other collectors out there as when I was searching, yeah, there was minimal.
  First off is this one, which I consider my favorite of the three.  I guess these records are directed or curated by Gianni Mazza, who I consider just a god damn genius having killed it on the Fly and Roman Record Company records, which are also some of the rarest and mythical italian librarys out there.  check his discography here.   All songs on side A are credited to Zauli/Tierrit except "Drums Explosion" which is credited to Flavio Scogna.  Zauli I'm guessing is Franco Zauli who is part of the King Zerand awesomeness.  Interesting enough my buddy Spaziale turned me on to the fact that "Drums Explosion" was also released as a very sought after Cosmic Disco 7 in  and "Popsy" & "EOE" also here.  EOE is a very islandy happy driving song with vocals chanting EOE.  The next two songs are where it's at, "Ritratto Di Un Viso" with its unbelievable cosmic porno groove, I love everything about this song.  "Drums Explosion" is incredible with its dry build and then layering all the cosmic synth and percussion as it goes.  "Carillon" has a slow piano groove with oohs and ahs vocals, very nice.  "Popsy" is similar to EOE in its sound but with some added synth.  Then comes the 24 minute epic prog, funk disco epic, " Pavana" by G.Biso which occupies the entire side B.  I personally broke the jam up into 9 parts because it helps me just focus on the parts I like.  The recording is very 70's prog perfection with drums changing beats and tempo all the time, soaring synths and organ solos galore.  My favorite being when the beat slows down to an epic cosmic acid trip on what I call Parts 6 & 8.
  The exact number of copies of these SMAG series records are unknown to me but I would guess between 100 & 200 maybe less considering I've seen so few come up for sale.  Enjoy these 3 jams ripped from my personal collection and as always rip trades accepted, here TRADES Chris Tillotson






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