La Novizia (Colonna Sonora Originale Del Film)

Oops, Four Flies did it again! Like other rare Italian gems, Berto Pisano’s La Novizia
was long thought lost before the FF team rescued, restored and remastered it from the
original tapes. And wow, it’s just one of the best things, if not the best thing, about the
1975 film it was written for – an erotic comedy with melodramatic overtones directed
by Pisano’s long-time collaborator Giuliano Biagetti (they previously worked together
on Interrabang and La Svergognata) and starring a young and mesmerizing Gloria
Guida.
The film’s low budget meant that Pisano had to make a virtue out of necessity. Rather
than using a big orchestra and strings (as is well known, he was a brilliant conductor
and string arranger), he relied on a smaller ensemble – almost a chamber ensemble,
but with a jazz-like rhythm section – to create sensual late-night soundscapes that exude
a downtempo ambience. In a nutshell: smooth, warm, velvety music. The epitome
of the lounge sound.
At times, whispered, sexy vocals by (the then ubiquitous) Edda Dell’Orso float dreamily
over brushed drums, bass, guitars and electric pianos. At others, we find Italian
library heavyweights like Alessandro Alessandroni (whose unmistakable whistle can
be heard in “Canto Notturno”) and even psychedelic rock influences, as in the acid
distorted guitars, furious drums and crazy synths of “Free Dimension”. At yet other
times, we’re taken into more easy-listening territory – “Fiore Rosso”, for instance, offers
a wonderfully cinematic example of Mediterranean, rather than Brazilian, bossa nova
(did they ever thought of using a spinet in Brazil??).
The secret to the charm of La Novizia is that it encapsulates the Italian erotic sound of
the 70s in all of its nuances, from the morbid, to the prudish, to the naïve. Because yes,
this is a record of nuance and musicianship. And while the themes are in themselves
simple, the fantastic quality of the writing, arrangement and production is a testament
to Berto Pisano’s superb talent, style and professionalism.
Finally back to life after decades of obscurity, La Novizia is a thing of beauty – which,
as a pretty bright fellow once said, is a joy forever. Don’t miss out on joy.
Comes on vinyl, CD and Digi with original artwork by Eric Adrian Lee and exclusive
liner notes by the Pisano family. All tracks are previously unreleased in any format.

TRACKLIST:
1.Interno Notte 03:46
2.Fiore Rosso 04:57
3.Pelle Morbida
4.Attimi Di Tenerezza
5.Carefree
6.Attimi DI Tenerezza #2
7.Night Blues
8.Free Dimension 02:21
9.Canto Notturno
10.Dolore E Speranza
11.Carefree #2
12.Attimi Di Tenerezza #3 (CD & Digital Only)
13.Interno Notte #2
14.Pelle Morbida #2 (CD & Digital Only)
15.Attimi Di Tenerezza #4 (CD & Digital Only)
16.Attimi Di Tenerezza #5 (CD & Digital Only)
17.Dolore E Speranza #2 (CD & Digital Only)
18.Canto Notturno [Versione Corta] (CD & Digital Only)
19.Attimi Di Tenerezza #6 (CD & Digital Only)
20.Dolore E Speranza #3 (CD & Digital Only)
21.Ad Gloriam (CD & Digital Only)