The Italian Job

Finally, after many long years, a portion of Ennio Morricone’s genius is more readily available to the public. Mike Patton, longtime proponent and producer of weird and off-kilter music took it upon himself to deliver a collection of sundry tracks from the Italian master himself for Patton’s Ipecac records. Crime and Dissonance spans two discs and over 20 years, with just about everything represented.Simply put, there is no easy catchall category to pigeonhole the music. Every track stands alone, different from the rest, and style shifts occur in mid song. Without any cohesion, the haphazard collection veers all over. Every style, from bebop to jazz, to psyche rock, to angelic moaning, makes it way into this. Pieces such as “”Trafelato”” and “”Gli Intoccabili””are jazzy funk-lite and tracks such as “”L’attenato”” and “”Fumeria d’Oppio”” sound like a Middle Eastern spy epic. While the collection focuses on what can barely be called “”avant-garde jazz,”” there is something for everyone here. Though considered the master of the spaghetti Western, there is barely a six-shooter in sight. That which he is most known for may, in fact, be one of the few styles not referenced here.

ame Without any sort of visual or guideline, the songs give an imaginative feel, inspiring the listener to make up their own scene and wonder about what is actually the intent of the piece.

ame However, this set isn’t perfect. Fans of the Western style will be disappointed. Its haphazard nature also lends itself to a very cartoonish, forced feel at times, which makes a bit of sense, considering the men who were involved with this project. It is still a fine collection, allowing those who might never have gotten the chance to explore more of film’s greatest genius in a more atypical light.