VIA PRESS RELEASE | CAM Sugar and Synth History present Synth Utopia Vol II, featuring rare selections from early Italian and French film soundtracks found in CAM Sugar’s extensive archives and curated by Synth History’s Danz CM—the self-produced musician, songwriter, and composer formerly known as Computer Magic. Within, unearthed and archived synth-laden material from the 1970s and early 1980s abound.
Featuring legendary composers like Ennio Morricone, Vangelis, Marcello Giombini, the collection highlights some of the early work by composers who would later become household names; take the new Danz CM remix of Fabio Frizzi’s “Sette Ragazze di Classe,” which translates to “Seven Dangerous Women.” It’s a 1979 film in which seven women decide to play a game to seduce as many aristocratic men as possible that few are aware exist in Frizzi’s catalogue.
Of Synth Utopia Vol II, Danz CM says: “People know that Ennio Morricone scored Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy, Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, John Carpenter’s The Thing, etc., but how many people know he started out scoring 1970s comedy and erotica (Quando la preda è l’uomo, 1972)? A lot of the tracks found on Synth Utopia Vol II come from erotic films; on Fabio Frizzi’s “Sette Regazze Di Classe,” I went in an Italo / Space-disco direction (as one does).
You’ll also find an early track by Vangelis from La Fête sauvage, a 1975 wildlife documentary that he scored before his breakthrough success as a composer. Years later he’d go on to create probably one of the most famous themes of all time in 1981 for Chariots of Fire, and then score Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner a year later. It’s neat to hear it all.”
Synth History is an independent magazine, website, limited narrative podcast series, and collection of playlists all curated by Danz in which modern day legends and pioneers discuss their inspirations, gear, and process. The fifth issue of the magazine (out now) features John Cale, Justice, Hot Chip, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, Ty Segall, ODESZA, George Clanton, favorite records from Fred Armisen, Elijah Wood, and Shintaro Sakamoto, & many more.
Last month, Danz CM released LÄRM!, which Hearing Things called “instrumental electronic music with vivid scene-setting and a patient sense of narrative, delivered with warm vintage hardware tones.” It pays homage to 1970s Krautrock bands like Cluster, Can, Neü, and Harmonia, seamlessly fusing synth improvisations, hypnotic rhythms, and dream-like vocals.
While clearly indebted to those forebears, Danz also taps into their form-breaking spirit, finding fresh folds and imbuing these otherworldly compositions with her singular touch. Listen to LÄRM! here.
