II Corpo di Linda
Song by Riz Ortolani
Riz Ortolani was an Italian music composer whose career spanned over 65 years. As a jazz musician, his interest was mostly in the music for the film. He scored over 200 films, including 'Mondo Cane' and the infamous 'Cannibal Holocaust,' while his music has been used recently by Quentin Tarantino in "Kill Bill," "Django Unchained," and "Inglorious Basterds."
Electronic music wasn't Ortolani's focus, but perhaps he got inspired by the Italian Disco scene and influenced by "Moroder-ish" arpeggiator he created an inspiring piece "Corpo di Linda." The track is a part of the soundtrack for the movie "The Pyjama Girl Case" (La ragazza dal pigiama Giallo) from 1978'.
This one is more than an Italo-Disco gem; it's a fascinating piece that has a structure of some modern styles. The absence of a snare drum gives the impression of some proto-techno and early techno music.
The kick drum was recorded live and looped on tape, which was done later in one of the first labeled Techno tracks to be produced, "A Number of Names - Shari Vari."
On the other hand, the synthesizers' sounds are designed and produced in a pure Italian way, raw and mysterious with a glimpse of horror Disco and an atmosphere like Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks soundtrack.
What is excellent in this one are the filtered hi-hats. The analog resonating filter is so sweet it gave the hats another dimension, something that can be heard a lot in the 80's Disco era and nowadays dance music.
If you would spin this back then, you would probably find it empty or maybe too simple, but the sampling on the tape machine those days was a hell of a lot of work.
One of the most respected Italian engineers worked on this piece. Giorgio Agazzi is mostly known for his work with Ennio Morricone, and the band Goblin approached this one and mixed it in a way as today's dance music demands. The job he did on this one is magnificent.
Corpo di Linda is a hidden gem that even Disco enthusiasts probably didn't hear. The track has been reissued in 2008' on "Disco Promozionale" as an unofficial release.
Many music diggers would pay much for this one because Ortolani is a pioneer and innovator. The proto style of this one had more influence on the upcoming genres at the beginning of the '80s.
Corpo di Linda is a pure dancefloor thriller, a cosmic horror Disco, one of a kind that could be used as a prime time, hit, or DJ tool. More than 40 years after it has been released, it still sounds fresh.