Daniele Ciullini - Domestic Exile Collected Works '82-'86
(Ecstatic)

Daniele Ciullini proves that Italians were no strangers to the isolationist and minimalist sounds of early 80’s industrial and minimal synth. 
Ciullini lived on the fringes of homemade tape culture while also creating mail art self-portraits and publishing zines in 1982. He was a member of the little known Italian experimental project Cop Killers, which featured contributions from a young Masami Akita, aka Merzbow. No wonder that cassette will cost you north of $300.
But Ciullini began producing his own work in 1983 with the frigid, primitive yet slightly cosmic Domestic Exile. The eight tracks from the original cassette are presented on Side 1 and it’s clearly where the genius of Ciullini lies. He somehow manages to walk the line of darkness and exuberance, playfulness and chaos, all within a few minutes. His sense of atmosphere, restraint, discordance and other-worldliness is impressive in his approach to the synth and drum machine. The 2nd side compiles one-off compilation cuts and wallows a bit more in the din than the bouncy tracks off Side 1 but is still well worth investigating. It also features the only vocal track, “Soft Marble,” which is also the only appearance of electric guitar on the record for a nice change of pace. All in all, an essential record for lovers of early industrial, minimal synth and experimental sounds. (Dom)
Check out a track here.