The Tobias Crime Quartet came to life in Olbia, Sardinia, in 2014. The name of the band refers to the protagonist of 4 mosche di velluto grigio (Four Flies on Grey Velvet), a 1971 giallo film written and directed by Dario Argento. Nomen omen, as you can guess the music of the band is mainly inspired by the soundtracks of Italian seventies films in the vein of other bands such as Calibro 35, La Batteria, Strato’s, Apollo Beat or Anonima Sonora. After a good live activity on the local scene, in 2016 the band self released a 7 inches vinyl single with original music in vintage style entitled Meet The Tobias Crime Quartet with a line up featuring Maurizio Ragnedda (keyboards), Giuseppe Cossu (guitar), Giuseppe Aversano (drums) and Fabio Alìas (bass). It’s a limited edition printed in just 300 copies to sell as a gadget at their concerts but available also in a digital edition...
The opener “Pittulongu Connection” is a nervous and frenetic track, with strong jazz and funky nuances. The title refers to the favourite beach of the inhabitants of Olbia, about eight kilometres from the town, on the road that leads to Golfo Aranci. Best known also as Puntale Lungo, Pittulongu beach is a ‘half-moon’ of very fine, white sand with a few stretches of small shells: a perfect set for a thriller but the plot is up to your imagination...
Next comes “R.T., giustiziere”, a piece with a fast, spasmodic pace that begins with an electric guitar riff and continues with a tight, pumping rhythm section and vibrant organ surges. The title refers to the character from whom the band took its name, Roberto Tobias. In Dario Argento’s film Roberto Tobias is a drummer in a rock band who has been followed for a few days by a stranger in a dark raincoat. One evening, after rehearsing with the band, he decides to directly confront his persecutor and he follows him into a theatre. The two argue and the persecutor pulls out a dagger, with which Roberto accidentally kills him. The original score of the film was composed by Ennio Morricone but this is not a cover and the rest of the plot can follow the flow of your own imagination...
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| Tobias Crime Quartet 2016 |
“Praia Grande 5 Till 9” is calmer and better suited to evoking exciting adventures in an exotic paradise rather than urban crimes or car chases. The title seems to refer to a passionate night on a famous Portuguese beach in the Sintra region but somehow recalls also PFM... Then comes “Repraia”, just a reprise that ends this short but intense work...
On the whole, a very promising debut. I really hope this band can release a full length album sometime...
You can listen to the complete work HERE
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