#FeatureFriday Demotheca vol.3 by EROINA

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DEMOTHECA is a compilation of soundtracks from films that don’t exist. From giallo to western, from zombie movies to poliziottesco, by way of sexy comedies and Mondo films, the 9 tracks of Demotheca Vol. 3 take you on a journey through popular Italian cinema from the 1960s to the 1980s.

EROINA, is the story of a pop singer lost in Cinecittà. Every song is the theme song of an imaginary movie in which she plays the main role. EROINA tells her journey through the italian genre cinema of the 60s,70s and 80s.

With a cover reminiscent of Italian ‘Giallo’ posters we get a record that’s not far off from those aesthetics either as it’s very remminiscent of film scores. Specifically those of European cinema of the 60’s and 70’s. So that means some spooky Giallo inspired tunes a la Goblin of course but also not too shy to incorporate some of the gloomy epicness of Ennio Morricone’s Spaghetti Western scores of old.

All in all making for a record that’s spooky and mysterious but also quite sensual and this is in no small part thanks to Natacha Veibert’s lovely vocals. But the music complements her voice perfectly here as it offers a sound that’s funky and cosmic borrowing from both Soul, Funk and even the tropical Brazilian Samba music that was all the rage in the 60’s.

And just like a movie score it all feels very varied in the moods it offers as each track conjures up a little scene that can range from the aforementioned spooky and mysterious to more comical and whimsical or even exciting vibes that would not be amiss in a more action-packed scene.
And in this way you just get the kind of record that takes you places. It’s so evocative in how these compositions conjure up images in your head that take you on an exciting journey.

Eveyweveydevey

IThis is everything I could want in an album. It’s a love letter to those 70s and 80s films with the saturated and beautifully coloured posters, their disregard of narrative in pursuit of beautiful film work.and of course, their music.

This album is meticulous and intricate, it is deliciously done. Beautifully executed, it takes it’s beats and flows with them, it wears influences like a velvet cape, it takes the blood of it’s source and splashes them across the canvas like paint.

It takes in Morricone, Goblin, Frizzi, Riz Ortolani  to name a few, and mixes them with a real swagger. The instrumentation is clever, and neat and gloriously well done. Guitars, synths and drums all shine like gods and yet on top, lounging like some glorious vampiric queen is vocalist, Natacha Veibert. Lilting in melodic Italian, swooning, crooning and hypnotic.

It goes to your head like red wine. Fluid, dense yet subtle. It doesn’t go hard rot convince you, it doesn’t need to. It’s confident enough in it’s swagger to let you know it knows it has you.

Perfect soundtrack for Halloween, but if this isn’t enough there are plenty more albums on their bandcamp page for you to gorge yourself on. Go on, you know you want to.

Untidy Music

Here’s a little glimpse of how it was being a European teenager in the early 90’s. On Saturday evenings a few TV channels would regularly show Italian low-budget movies all night, most likely because they were extremely cheap to license. These films were mostly thrillers, comedies or horror flicks; often with remarkable levels of violence and full of gratuitous, glorious nudity. They were not high-brow entertainment, or filmed in a particularly imaginative way (although there were exceptions), but they were so fun and entertaining that I was looking forward to seeing a few new ones every week. It was a bit later that I learned that those were examples of a genre called “Giallo”. And the part that was genuinely, objectively well-crafted was the music.

Eroina make music that is exactly what you’d hear in a Giallo-movie. Synth-heavy disco pop infused with 60’s and 70’s psychedelia; atmospheric and densely layered. It has an addictive drive, is intensely melodic and incredibly expressive. While I don’t understand most of the lyrics, the wonderfully flowing vocals of Natacha Veibert add a degree of storytelling and class to the already great arrangement. And class is something this music has to an insane degree. The sound is perfectly appropriate for the style it aims to work in, but there is so much care and sophistication in how these songs are crafted; the pure talent and passion really shines through. It is full of the undefinable “It”.

Overall, this is one of my favorite discoveries in recent months on Bluesky. It evokes a sensation of nostalgia, but even ignoring that, it is fantastically well performed and produced music. Whether anyone reading this is a fan of Giallo or not, I fully recommend diving into this. And then the rest of Eroina’s discography, because there is a lot more where this is coming from. Pretty much like the movies this is a love letter to.

Florgoth

Eroina is a French duo making music in Italian to score movies that don’t exist. If you’re like me, you’re already sold. The album Demothica Vol. 3 immediately summons images of yellow fog-filled streets under a full moon, shadowy figures wielding weapons, and attractive young people running for their lives. But as much as it sounds like the score to a classic Italian horror film, this music is in no way a pastiche or parody. The arrangements, instrumentation and vocal performances are full of beauty and a sense of wonder. Each track creates not just a mood, but a whole world, which it then explores and inhabits.

My favorite track is “il bacio della mantide religiosa” (“the kiss of the praying mantis”) which starts and ends with a child’s counting game and includes a striking vocal arrangement in the style of folk singing. This is all blended with electronic instruments and percussion, to striking effect.

If you’re looking for Halloween music beyond “Monster Mash,” this fits the bill, but don’t mistake these for novelty songs. This is a beautifully conceived album that would elicit a response any time of year. Put it on for a late night drive, early morning run, or anytime you want to make your life feel a little more cinematic.

E.A.

Updated: October 30, 2026 — 6:45 am

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