Ennio Morricone’s First Posthumous Album Announced

20 October 2020

Ennio Morricone died this past summer at the age of 91. Now, less than four months later, his first posthumous album is being prepped for release. Titled Morricone Segreto, it’s a 27-song compilation collecting rarities, alternate takes, and seven never-before-heard songs from the legendary composer.

Due out November 6th via CAM Sugar/Decca, the forthcoming project is billed as “the hidden, dark-tinged, and psychedelic side of Ennio Morricone.” A press statement further describes the album as an “acid-tinged sonic journey through mysterious voices, fuzz guitars, airy strings, eerie synths and modern grooves”, suggesting we might be hearing a different version of Morricone — not the one we’ve grown accustomed to through scores like The Hateful Eight, The Untouchables, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

In an interview with Variety, Morricone Segreto curator Pierpaolo De Sanctis confirmed as much, noting that the new album is meant to be an experimental departure from Morricone’s most well known material. “I am talking about electronic music, hip hop, alternative rock,” De Sanctis said. “The idea was to go look at why Morricone today is still considered so hip in music circles that are very far-removed from the world of film soundtracks.”

All of the compositions on Morricone Segreto were recorded between the 1960s and the 1980s, which is considered by many to be the Italian composer’s most prolific creative era. To get an idea of what to expect, check out a trailer below that features music snippets from the album.

Morricone Segreto will be released on November 6th, which would have been the Maestro’s 92nd birthday.