No Strange
| Company type | Rock ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Salvatore D'Urso, Alberto Ezzu |
| Headquarters | Turin , Italy |
| Products | Music albums, singles, demo tapes |
No Strange is a rock ensemble originating from Turin, Italy, established in 1980 by Salvatore D'Urso (known as Ursus) alongside Alberto Ezzu. Drawing inspiration from psychedelic and cosmic genres, the group initiated a partnership in 1984 with producer Giulio Tedeschi of Toast Records. Their initial outputs include the cassette tapes Rainbow (1983), Lysergic Tomahawk (1984), and the self-titled debut album launched in 1985. Throughout their evolution, contributors such as Franco "Franz" Presutti, Gilberto Richiero, Loris Canalia, and Antonio "Tony" D'Urso joined the lineup.
Focusing primarily on musical experimentation rather than frequent concerts, No Strange performed mainly at select occasions like Turin's 1988 "Bom Shankar Event." The addition of percussionist Lucio Molinari and keyboardist Pino Molinari preceded the early 1991 release of Flora di Romi. Although regular activities paused in 1993, the band reunited in 2008, merging members from diverse eras and incorporating backing vocalist Rosalba Guastella.
Their later albums comprise Cristalli Sognanti (2011), available in both digital and vinyl formats; Armonia Vivente (2014), issued as a double CD and LP through Area Pirata and Psychout Rec; and the 10-inch record Universi e Trasparenze (2015), serving as an homage to their musical inspirations. The live ensemble expanded with synthesizer player Matteo Martino joining.
In 2017, original members Ezzu, D'Urso, and Fabrizio Della Porta released No Strange e Sogni Correlati, a multidisciplinary work examining psychedelia across various art forms. Later that year saw the release of Il Sentiero delle Tartarughe on vinyl, featuring a new trio formation that included contralto Paola Scatena.
The 2019 LP titled Mutter der Erde, dedicated to Jutta Nienhaus, showcased collaborations with artists like Armenian vocalist Rita Tekeyan and violinist Stefania Priotti. In the same year, Ezzu pursued parallel endeavors releasing L'Uscita delle Anime verso la Luce dl Giorno under Alberto Ezzu Lux Vocal Ensemble as well as medieval-themed projects with AlmaMantra.
No Strange's 2021 album …e continuarò ad esistere highlighted Paola Scatena’s significant vocal contributions amid Matteo Martino’s absence. Following this, Ezzu put out a solo electronic double CD in 2022 named Quaderno delle Poesie Elettroniche Ultraterrene, distributed by Rubber Soul Records Turin.
The double CD Universi, Sovrapposizioni e Risonanze, released in 2023, compiled earlier vinyl issues along with four previously unreleased tracks. In October of that year, Ezzu collaborated with singer/cellist/flautist Simona Colonna on Le Vie Dei Canti, marking his first vocal project outside No Strange.
On November 4, 2024, the vinyl record Chiedilo a te stesso was launched featuring Ezzu, D'Urso, contralto Paola Scatena, and Simona Colonna on flute and cello; side B includes a Renaissance organ recording.
In May 2025, Onde Italiane issued a 45 rpm record from No Strange’s early "No Strani" phase (1981), presenting three compositions by Ezzu and D'Urso: "Psycho Dream," "Dance Joy," and "Uomo scimmia."
Demo Tapes
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Rainbow | Self-produced |
| 1984 | Lysergic Tomahawk | Roller Coaster Italy |
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Trasparenze e suoni | Toast Records Italy |
| 1987 | L'Universo | Toast Records Italy |
| 1991 | Flora di Romi | Toast Records Italy |
| 2011 | Cristalli Sognanti | Psychout Rec. Italy |
| 2014 | Armonia Vivente - tra analogie e contrasti (double LP) | Psychout Rec. Italy |
| 2015 | Universi e Trasparenze (10") | Psychout Rec. - Area Pirata Italy |
| 2017 | Il Sentiero delle Tartarughe | Psychout Rec. - Area Pirata Italy |
| 2019 | Mutter der Erde | Psychout Rec. - Area Pirata Italy |
| 2021 | ...e continuerò ad esistere | Psychout Rec. - Area Pirata Italy |
| 2024 | Chiedilo a te stesso | Psychout Rec. - Area Pirata Italy |
| 2025 | Demos 1983 | Onde Italiane Italy |
Singles
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | White bird/Fiori risplendenti | Toast Records Italy |
| 2025 | No Strani | Onde Italiane Italy |
CDs
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Medusa | Toast Records Italy |
| 2011 | Cristalli Sognanti | Area Pirata Italy |
| 2014 | Armonia Vivente - tra analogie e contrasti (double CD) | Area Pirata Italy |
| 2023 | Universi, Sovrapposizioni e Risonanze (double CD including unreleased tracks and LPs) | Area Pirata Italy & Psych-Out Records |
Albums Compilation
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Eighties colours | Electric eye Italy |
| 1987 | What exactly is a joke | Vinile/Crazy Mennequin Italy |
| 1988 | Oracolo | Toast Records Italy |
| 1993 | Who are them? | Face Records Italy |
| 1993 | Apocalisse di diamante | Toast Records Italy |
| 2022 | Le Forbici di Manitù & Friends INCREDIBILE?! | 2LP / 2 CD, Sussidiaria Italy |
CDs Compilation
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Electric Psychedelic Sitar Headswirlers Vol 9 | Purple Lantern USA |
| 2012 | Welcome Back to the Eighties Colours | Psychout Rec. |
| 2012 | 'HOFMANN'S KALEIDOSCOPE: Expiation of the Psychedelic Hunters Vol. I' | 'Vincebus Eruptum' fanzine n°14 |
| 2022 | Le Forbici di Manitù & Friends INCREDIBILE?! including "C'è una musica" | Sussidiaria |
Alberto Ezzu Lux Vocal Ensemble
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | CD Consonanze armoniche, Ostinati Ritmici e Veri Bordoni Immobili | Cooperativa Primainsieme Italy |
| 2011 | LP Consonanze armoniche, Ostinati Ritmici e Veri Bordoni Immobili (double LP with three bonus tracks) | Psychout Rec. |
| 2013 | CD Il Fuoco del 6° Armonico sulla Luce della Dominante partendo dalla Madre Fondamentale (inspired by Zarathustra) | Hic Sunt Leones and Arte, Cura e Trasformazione |
| 2017 | CD Le Litanie di Ra | Hic Sunt Leones |
| 2019 | LP L'Uscita delle Anime verso la Luce del Giorno | Psychout Rec. |
AlmaMantra
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | CD AlmaMantra | Hic Sunt Leones |
Alberto Ezzu
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CD Quaderno delle Poesie Elettroniche Ultraterrene | Rubber Soul Records Torino |
| 2023 | CD SIMONA COLONNA e ALBERTO EZZU: Le Via Dei Canti | Rubber Soul Records Torino |
Alberto Ezzu Lux Vocal Ensemble
Since the 1970s, Alberto Ezzu has dedicated himself to broadening cognitive horizons through sound, transitioning from psychedelic origins toward a professional concentration on music therapy. His artistic expression combines avant-garde elements with ancient sonic traditions, drawing inspiration from American Minimalism alongside multi-voiced singing practices native to Siberia, Mongolia, and Tibet. This distinctive synthesis forms the core of his artistic identity and therapeutic methodology.
The ensemble’s discography, featuring works such as Consonanze Armoniche, Ostinati Ritmici e Veri Bordoni Immobili, showcases a melding of drone-based music with avant-garde influences reminiscent of La Monte Young and Terry Riley. Collaborations with artists including Raffaela Gottardelli and Guido Montegrandi contribute modal depth through the use of instruments like the synphonia and bass viola da gamba.
Ezzu’s recordings are notable for their gradual, enveloping sound textures that combine harmonic vocalizations with instrumental layers. A special collector’s edition of the first hundred copies of Consonanze Armoniche was personally autographed by Ezzu and featured unique packaging, enhancing its exclusivity.
These initiatives receive backing from the Centro Musicoterapia Benenzon Italia, which supports educational efforts aimed at disseminating multi-voiced singing techniques among practitioners and musicians. This partnership highlights the ensemble’s commitment to pioneering advancements in music therapy within the professional field.