Music recommendation - Italian post punk and new wave
Edited by siberianoia at 2026-01-20 06:07Idk if someone can be interested in this genre of thread, but let's try!
This will be a very brief guide to Italian post punk and new wave, but if you want to know more details, ask me anything! I really love this side of italian music, very obscure and deep... quite unexpected in a country with a very different tradition.
The Italian New Wave scene between the late 70s and mid-80s was incredibly vibrant, mostly centered around specific cities. Here is a quick breakdown:
1) Bologna: Bologna was the heart of the movement, influenced by the student protests and a very artsy vibe.
You can listen to:
- Confusional Quartet – Confusional Quartet (1980): Fast, chaotic, and brilliant. They made instrumental masterpieces.
- Gaznevada – Sick Soundtrack (1980): Pure art-punk and no-wave energy.
- Skiantos – MONO tono (1978): They created "Demential Punk." Essential for understanding Italian irony.
Bologna was the first city where a record label wanted to promote this movement. Anyway, it was more punk-oriented.
2) Florence (!!): my fav scene. Florence had a more "gloomy" and atmospheric sound, very influenced by Joy Division and The Cure, but with its uniqueness.
I suggest you these albums:
- Litfiba – 17 Re (1986): Before they became a famous rock band, they were masters of darkwave.
- Diaframma – Siberia (1984): Probably the most iconic Italian New Wave album and band. Poetic and cold. The first one to use italian language in the genre and in a fantastic way.
- Neon – Rituals (1985): Great if you love electronic/dark synth sounds.
3) Pordenone: a small city in the Northeast that created its own isolated, legendary scene called "The Great Complotto.
- The Great Complotto – Pordenone / The Great Complotto (1980): A compilation of various local bands.
- Tampax – Bastard Day (Single): Raw, provocative punk.
Thanks, really very interesting.i should look some of these bands are featured on Youtube . . . BUSYBEE replied at 2026-01-20 08:28
Thanks, really very interesting.i should look some of these bands are featured on Youtube . . .
Yess, you can find a lot of stuff free on youtube about them: albums, videoclips, interviews and docs (but probably without subtitles *sigh*). Thanks I've only listened to a couple so far, but I'll definitely work my way through the rest. This is an excellent intro to great music. Cool! Thank you! thanks for sharing
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