Daily dose of dope
I’ve been meaning to administer a dose of Italian soundtracks
Umiliani, Alessandroni, Piccioni, Morricone
Why are the Italians the maestri indiscussi of the score, soundtrack, library records?
No clue
But in keeping with dose traditions, here’s a more obscure composer
Too easily overshadowed by the names in bright lights
Daniela Casa was unusual already as a woman in a male-dominated genre
But it was her breadth and heterodoxy that truly set her apart
She was born in Rome in 44
Another who came into a world of destruction
She was the daughter of a shipbuilder
And went to art school
In 63 she was discovered and signed to the Fonit label
Some early work on vocals:
Her compositions are the real highlight, tho
She was on the vanguard of experimental and electronic production
You can get a taste of her creativity on Arte Moderna, an album of compositions she put together to accompany an abstract art show at a Rome gallery
https://youtu.be/_rDzbW5ww4c
The opener is a breezy Brazilian bossa
Very cool
But it soon veers very far afield
With tracks that represent aural renderings of different art styles
Architectural studio, Arte naif, Structuralism, Expressionism, etc
If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, what is composing music about architecture like?
Today’s dose is from her 1975 album Societa Malata
Another concept album with compositions dedicated to the different ailments of a “Sick Society”
There’s one on oppression, one on ignorance, one on dictatorship
The cut about Empty Streets is a favorite
https://youtu.be/hL1QoFDNcek
But even more stunning is the one on Danger
Why is Danger one of the social ills?
I’m not sure
Maybe the music offers a hint?
https://youtu.be/tDAPmC2qURw
Electronic drones certainly sound ominous
Casa’s music was fairly buried until being unearthed, like Pompeii, by 21st century diggers
She died young at 42
Her daughter Valentina — via another musician, Remigio Ducros — is also a singer
Tough to find much of her production on YouTube (perhaps other platforms are better?)
But it’s worth seeking out
