In the late 1960s and early 1970s Italian soundtrack and library music went through its most experimental, prolific and dazzling period having a strong radio presence in both Europe and the US. Musicians and composers such as Piero Umiliani, Amleto Armando Roelens and even Ennio Morricone – with his side project Gruppo Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza lead by Franco Evangelisti – were regularly experimenting with idiosyncratic combinations of jazz, electronic, progressive, disco, funk and psych genres. Some of their output from this period was wonderfully joyful, atmospheric, ironic and erotic, with it’s treasures only now being discovered by the most dedicated of diggers and enthusiasts.

It was their mutual love of these 60s and 70s soundtracks that brought Lorenzo Morresi and Tenderlonious together. After performing alongside each other at a festival in Italy back in 2017 they quickly bonded over a shared love of Jay Richford and Gary Steven’s album ‘Feelings’ – which, in reality, is the Italian duo Brugnolini and Torossi – as they both owned the Schema repressed vinyl version. The idea was quickly conceived to put together a fresh take starting with that early 1970s Italian style, using contemporary analogue inspired arrangements combined with experimental and joyful ‘tongue-in-cheek’ sounds that could work on the dance floor as well as at home.

The album is mainly in the territories of Italo jazz funk and the aforementioned Italian library sound. Some tracks like ‘Nuda Sorgente’, ‘Doppio Sogno’ and ‘Estate’ are also club oriented with a musical crossover from old-to-new. ‘Estate’ is a cover from the classic jazz standard by Italian singer Bruno Martino.

Tender and Morresi worked tirelessly between Italy and London for approximately 2 years carefully shaping their album ‘Cosmica Italiana’. The record also includes contributions from London based Italian keyboard player Emilio Merone and Italy based drummer Archelao Macrillò.

“With this project we’ve done our best to deliver our own interpretation of this wonderful era of Italian music and rediscover a beautiful genre, whilst maintaining a strong respect and admiration for the sounds that those original Italian masters created. Their records impressed and inspired us and we hope it will be the same for our listeners today.”