1974 Hareton Salvanini “Magia Erotica” on Aguamanda Records

Hey, leave it to the Italians and their Catholic guilt. The Brazilian press of this record (posted a few months ago) has the same model in the same pose on a gorgeous beach, celebrating life, nudity, and the sunrise by the ocean with the title “The Virgin of Saint Tropez”. This crops her out of that idyllic landscape, turns the cover an ominous red, makes her a witch, and has her diving into the flames/pit of hell. So, yeah, a whole different vibe/culture/resignation to the dictates of popery. Also, everyone knows there are no virgins on St. Tropez, but you can’t hold an inaccurate movie title against this fantastic soundtrack. Like the very best library action, the erotic never veers far from the esoteric, but in the best possible way. This is a layered, double-clutching, funky, VERY Brazilian outing deep into the heart of Euro soft-core cinema.

​Sure, it grooves hard with Salvanini’s heavy Rhodes touch, but also has a strong/experimental jazz edge, and is batting so much higher than its subject matter that it’s practically in orbit. I love this record, a tasty little nugget of unexpectedly creative and satisfying Petite Mort. Also, the film is directed by eccentric Polish genius Zygmunt Sulistrowsky, who also brought us such classics as “Africa Erotica: A Happening in Africa”, “Naked Amazon”, “Love In The Pacific, and “The Awakening Of Annie” (hint: she does not awaken in a library cubicle and proceed to solve two hours of calculus equations). So, basically he’s your horny uncle with a 16mm camera collection who wears cornea-searing Bermuda shirts and gets way too drunk during the Easter Egg hunt every year and has to sleep it off in the tool shed. But enough of that, because although “Magia Erotica” is probably complete shit as a film, the music is a killer mix of the whole suave, warm, embracing Salvanini vibe. There’s a reason this record goes for such ludicrous prices, mainly because, under the gauze of cinematic lingerie, it’s right up there with the top Tropicalia titles of the era. Seriously Excellent Action!