M. Zalla - Problemi D'Oggi (2015) [Reissue]

*Proto-techno from 1973. Seriously - 1973!* Necessary reissue of a jaw-dropping techno/trance prototype from the Italian experimental underground circa 1973. Under the alias, M. Zalla, the Italian maestro known as Piero Umiliani consolidated a fascination with emergent psychedelia and electronic atmospheres in 'Problemi D'oggi' thanks to his early adoption of drum machines and synthesisers (a Moog and EMS Synthi to be precise) which he knitted with searing/floating organ, motorik drums and guitar to forge a potent reduction of rhythm-driven psych music. Whilst sometimes you might need to squint your ears a bit to identify a piece's prescient or "proto" elements, even with shades on it's easy to hear the similarities between this LP and the sleek, linear lines of modern, minimal and experimental techno/trance memes. There are 18 tracks in total, all created for library purposes, and ranging from the polyrhythmic pulsation of 'Produzione', the album's 3 minute highlight, thru myriad variations variously described as "relaxing", "serious, normal atmosphere", or our favourite, "Not breathless war situation". Quite honestly, for anyone with even a passable knowledge of what came before and after this record, it's like listening to a sonic evolution subtly occurring before your ears, making all the more understandable why it's one of the most cherished library sides out there, and sorta justifying the £200+ 2nd hand price.