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)

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”

Angeli Bianchi, Angeli Neri

Limited edition 7″

Out on July 14th, 2023

SIDE A1: Saudade
SIDE B1: Macumba

Another Piero Umiliani classic gets its first-ever release on 7″ vinyl! Shortly after ‘Sweden: Heaven and Hell’, in 1969 ‘Angeli Bianchi, Angeli Neri’ continued the collaboration between Umiliani and director Luigi Scattini, this time in the direction of magic and esotericism, as the English title of the film, “Witchcraft ’70”, makes abundantly clear.

The two tracks included in this release reflect that direction, which informs more or less the entire score written by the Florentine composer. On side A, the wonderful “Saudade” features Brazilian singer Maria da Penha Silva, whose hypnotic and sensual voice soars over soft percussion, as if casting a spell.

On side B, the irresistible “Macumba” sounds almost like an Amazonian ritual, something halfway between capoeira and batucada, with its driving percussion over which the mysterious wordless vocalizing of Edda Dell’Orso creates a wildly fascinating theme.

This limited edition 7″ is a genius combination of groove and magic. Don’t miss out!

Il Corpo

Limited edition 7″

Out on July 14th, 2023

SIDE A1: Chaser
SIDE B1: Hard Times

Four Flies is proud to present the very first 7″ version of music from “Il corpo”, Piero Umiliani’s acclaimed soundtrack to the 1974 film that ends the exotic/erotic trilogy directed by Luigi Scattini and starring Zeudy Araya, where the Florentine composer reached one of the peaks of his creative powers.

“Chaser”, featured on side A in an exclusive extended version (previously unreleased in any form), is a track with a dreamy groove that blends rock, funk, jazz, exotic and psychedelic elements into a gorgeous symphony of rhythmic sensuality.

The imperishable “Hard Times”, on side B, is one of the most sublime examples of Italian jazz-funk, with an orchestration built around a stunning string section that provides incredible depth and three-dimensionality. At once exotic, percussive, and full of jazz and funk vibes, this unique double-sider is the perfect accomplice to any DJ.

Copies will go very fast – it’s a limited edition, don’t sleep on it!

Amo’ / Voce ‘e Notte

Limited edition 7″

Out on July 7th, 2023

SIDE A: Amo’

SIDE B: Voce ‘e Notte

Coming straight outta Salerno’s vibrant music scene, “Amo’ / Voce ‘e Notte” is the first 7” single from female rap duo Zetas. Released by DJ’s Choice, a partner label of Four Flies Records, it contains two songs produced by beatmaker, rapper and producer Tonico 70, a true veteran of Southern Italian hip hop.
Both young millennials, rappers Annarella and Miriade were exposed to the world of underground hip-hop from an early age, jamming, freestyling and listening to different music than their peers. Active as a duo since 2019, they’re now making their official debut with this 7”, which will be followed by an album at the end of September.
The A-side track “Amo’”, which is about the overuse and loss of meaning of the word ‘love’ (amo’ translates as ‘luv’), makes their intentions clear. Zetas rap in the exuberant dialect and slang of their native city of Salerno, while their sound looks back to the ‘90s through a contemporary lens. Raw rhymes are delivered with an urgent flow over a beat that, rather than boom-bap nostalgia, is a modern take on classic production styles. The result is a happy medium between old school and fresh – one where the melody of dialect rap and rhymes blends wonderfully with the rhythms of funk, soul and reggae.

“Voce ‘e notte”, on side B, has a different mood, but the same approach. Here, Zetas weave wistful verses tinged with disillusionment and toughness on top of Tonico 70’s 808-led beat, paying tribute to a classic Neapolitan song also titled “Voce ‘e Notte”. The result is a rap serenade that transforms and reimagines the Neapolitan song tradition through today’s sensibility and, of course, through hip hop.

Out on 7 July 2023. Also available in digital format.

Provaci Anche Tu Lionel

Limited edition 7″

Out on July 2nd, 2023

SIDE A1: Provaci Anche tu Lionel (Poliziesco)
SIDE A2: Provaci Anche tu Lionel (Indagine)
SIDE B1: Provaci Anche tu Lionel (Discoteca)

A welcome addition to Four Flies 45s series, this is the first 7-inch release ever of one of the very few soundtracks written by Paolo Ormi, who is better known as a music producer of Italian funk, disco and library music, not only for big stars such as Raffaella Carrà but also underground projects geared to the disco industry.

The 7″ contains three uber-funky instrumentals, two of which previously included in Four Flies’ now almost impossible-to-find compilations Esterno Notte and Esterno Giorno (both of which feature unreleased film music from the archives of the former RCA Italy).

Composed for a negligible 1973 comedy – a weak parody of Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam starring dubbing actor Oreste Lionello, who for decades lent his voice to Allen – Ormi’s score is one of the funkiest blaxploitation-inspired soundtracks ever made in Italy.

The opening track on side A, with its stylish wah-wah guitars, pulsating bass, drum breaks and pronounced horn section, is a crime flick theme that clearly bears the influence of Isaac Hayes’s “Shaft”. Also on side A is a real gem – previously unreleased in any format – where funk meets b-boy breaks, while side B has more of a Latin groove à la Nico Gomez, with a tropical funk vibe that is reminiscent of some of the best music produced at the time by Ormi, such as “Cocco Secco” or the disco tracks released under the moniker Red Redford.

Three super-danceable tunes that will set any dancefloor on fire.

Limited Edition – be quick before all copies are gone!

L’Altro Dio

Limited edition 7″

Out on July 2nd, 2023

SIDE A: L’altro dio – Titoli
SIDE B: L’altro Dio – Seq.1

We’ve rarely listened to anything funkier by Alessandroni. Walking the line between disco and jazz-funk, our beloved Maestro penned the two irresistibly groovy gems in this release slightly before his blaxploitation-inspired soundtrack to Sangue di sbirro, and there are indeed similarities here – the horn and rhythm sections, as well as pianist Enrico Pieranunzi’s jazz phrasing.

Taken from the soundtrack to an obscure 1975 Italian film, Elio Bartolini’s L’Altro Dio, these two instrumentals might have remained in oblivion were it not that Four Flies rescued and included them in the compilations Esterno Notte and Esterno Giorno, both of which sold out quickly and have become almost impossible to find. It seemed more than proper now to release them for the first time ever on 7″ – perhaps the format which best suits them – as part of our Four Flies 45s series on rare Italian grooves.

Limited edition. Be quick before all copies are gone!

Oasi Nella Giungla (Dengue Dengue Dengue Remix)

Limited edition 7″ – 350 copies

Out on July 9th, 2023

SIDE A: Oasi Nella Giungla (Dengue Dengue Dengue Remix)
SIDE B: Oasi Nella Giungla

The second instalment in the 45 RELOVED series sees acclaimed world-electronic duo Dengue Dengue Dengue diving into the most intriguing side of Giuliano Sorgini, an undisputed heavyweight of Italian library music with cult soundtracks under his belt, such as The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue and Zoo Folle.

The original ‘Oasi nella giungla’ (which translates as Oasis in the Jungle) comes from the highly sought after Africa Oscura (Dark Africa), a sublime collection of tracks originally intended for use in television, all of which were recorded by Sorgini in the mid-70s by overdubbing synths, drums (both acoustic and electronic), a wide variety of percussion instruments, and field recordings.

Back in 2019 Four Flies paid tribute to Africa Oscura with two EPs of remixes by Italian producers from the cosmic/Balearic electronic scene. Four years later, Dengue Dengue Dengue’s mind-blowing rework of ‘Oasi nella giungla’ offers a great opportunity not only to go back to the fantastic sound of that album, but to fully appreciate the tribal element in Sorgini’s music.

In the hands of the Peruvian duo, the sonic geography of ‘Oasi nella giungla’ magically shifts from the depths of Africa to those of the Amazon rainforest, and the tribal percussions of the Savannah turn into an equatorial cumbia full of mystery and mystical echoes. The result is a mesmerizing fusion of tropical rhythms, dub, house and psychedelia, with an ancestral vibe that is perhaps even more pronounced than in the original track. Co-curated with Little Beat More.

Out on 7″ and digital formats

Notte Inchiesta

Limited edition 7″ – 500 copies

Out on April 21th, 2023

SIDE A: Notte Inchiesta
SIDE B1: Equilibrio
SIDE B2: Sambuca

After the successful 7-inch release of Agip, Roman producer and composer Azzurro 80 is back on Four Flies with another triple-single that continues his love affair with dreamy synth-pop and Italian Eighties culture and society.

“Notte Inchiesta”, on side A, could be the title music to an imaginary ’80s investigative/true-crime program broadcast on late-night television. Clearly reminiscent in mood and texture of the soundtracks of late-70s/early-80s Italian detective-action films, it brings back the jazz-funk, post-prog and fusion overtones that characterized the music of those films. In short: a contemporary-retro sound nestled somewhere between Goblin’s funk-oriented recordings, Azymuth’s “Jazz Carnival”, and electronic disco with a sprinkle of new wave.

Side B opens with “Equilibrio”, which could serve as additional, more dynamic music for the same TV program mentioned above. The style is once againelectronic jazz-funk, but here we have abreak built upon a trail of notes chasing each other.

In contrast, “Sambuca”, the single’s closer, is deliberately nostalgic and melancholy. Perfectly suitable for visual narratives of an Italy that no longer exists, it sounds like one of those great Italian soundtrack themes that are able to convey tension and calm at the same time. The track is titled after the anise-flavoured liqueur that Italians often drink after their espresso, because “making references in my music to things that are part of our national popular culture is really important to me”, as the artist has explained.

Cumbia Mahàre / Ophis

Limited edition 7″ – 500 copies

Out on April 14th, 2023

SIDE A: Cumbia Mahàre
SIDE B: Ophis

Drop a needle on Psyché’s debut double-sider – the debut album is out on May 19th – and you’ll see visions, or rather Mediterranean visions, be they of waves of heat shimmering above dunes of sand, or of women dancing around a bonfire on a rocky plain, or of bushy cliffs overlooking emerald-green and turquoise sea. The name Psyché is of course ancient Greek for ‘soul’ or ‘mind’,signifying the band’s love of psychedelic funk, but also the wide range of Mediterranean influences – from Southern Europe to the Balkan Peninsula, and from Anatolia to the Maghreb – that provide an endless source of inspiration for their hypnotic sound and minimalist style.

Psyché members Marcello Giannini (Guru, Nu Genea, Slivovitz), Andrea De Fazio (Parbleu, Nu Genea, Funkin Machine) and Paolo Petrella (Nu Genea) have been active in the Naples music scene for almost two decades, most notably during the first wave of the new Neapolitan Power movement (Slivovitz, Revenaz Quartet). Over the years they have often crossed paths and collaborated on side projects in various genres (math-rock duo Arduo and, more recently, Italo-disco duo Fratelli Malibu), before working together as the rhythm section of Nu Genea’s live band. Following their first tour with Nu Genea in 2018, they started Psyché with the intent of exploring more minimalist styles and making musicwith just a few elements.

A unique combination of psychedelia, groove and improvisation, the music of Psyché goes back to the roots of our future; it evokes visions of a mythical past, blending centuries-old music traditions and mixing them with modern genres. Like a warm Mediterranean breeze, it travels across lands, seas and eras, distilling essential rhythms and cosmic pulsations.

“Cumbia Mahàre”, on side A of the 7-inch, dives deep into the origins of rhythm, drawing us into the movements of an imaginary ritual dance (the term mahàre was used in Southern Italian dialects to indicate witches). Through the interplay between minimal synths and exhilarating rhythmic patterns of drums, percussion, guitar and bass, Psyché take a fresh and bold approach to contemporary afrobeat and cumbia fusion.

“Ophis”, on side B, is a mesmeric blend of African, Balkan and Turkish rhythms and sounds. Ethereal vocalizations and warm, hypnotic bass lines combine with psychedelic riffs and haunting melodies on guitar to evoke ancient cultures whose spiritslithers like a snake across the dunes of a sun-scorched desert.

Available as a 500-Copy Limited Edition 7-inch, and Digital.