Have you ever wondered what would a 1970s crime B-movie sound like if it was made in the 2000s? Or what the soundtrack of 1971 blaxploitation flick Shaft would be if it was made in Italy? The undisputed answer is the Milanese crime-funk outfit Calibro 35.

Formed in 2007 by notable music producer Tommaso Colliva (who worked with the likes of Erykah Badu, Franz Ferdinand, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Manu Chao, and Muse), and some of the most sought-after Italian musicians, Calibro 35 originated as a musical tribute to 1970s Italian crime cinema. What was presumed to be a one-album project, quickly gained international prominence among lovers of European exploitation films and funk, prog and jazz music. Ten years and six albums later, the Milanese five have a substantial fan base and a solid cult status. In the mainstream, their music has been used in multiple movie soundtracks and sampled by Jay Z, Dr.Dre, and Demigodz, while their electrifying live shows have won several awards.

Released in February 2018, Calibro’s sixth studio album DECADE is a celebration of their 10 year anniversary. While it encompasses all the developmental stages of their musical style, DECADE is also the first project where the sound is augmented by an orchestra of strings, brass, and percussions.

One of the many remarkable tracks on the album is "SuperStudio" - a marvelous fusion of orchestral wall of sound, romantic funk, and psychedelia, where distorted guitars and violins go hand-in-hand. As the title suggests, the track and the video pay homage to the legendary Italian radical architecture group Superstudio, which as famous for its psychedelic dystopian visuals, inspired by science fiction. This retro-futurism is translated into sound with the mixture of synthesizers, marimba, and disco-inspired strings.

Calibro 35 are on a Euro tour to promote their new Album. On June 23 they will be playing the Electric Orpheus festival in Bulgaria, together with other rock'n'roll and electronic acts from Germany, Croatia, and Bulgaria. Learn more about the event here.

posted by Iva
June 2018