GENRE; Electronic/ Experimental/ Prog Rock/ Instrumental 

RELEASE DATE; 10 October, 2026

RATING; 3.9/5

History can be recalled by means of names, and Gianfranco Malorgio’s “Greaseball” highlights a name linked to the way in which Italian immigrants were treated. The work derives its title from a disrespectful term applied to Italian communities, and it includes within its general subject the experiences of migrants and the prejudice they suffered. Apart from its connection with Italy, the piece deals with the hardships, wars and crises which cause people to leave their native countries, thus giving the work a more extensive view of displacement.

The trilogy, which started with ‘WOP’, published in November 2023 and was followed by ‘An Immigrant’s Story’, released on 3 October 2026, is now brought to an end with ‘Greaseball’. Both ‘WOP’ and ‘Greaseball’ were historical ethnic slurs aimed at Italian immigrants and their descendants, especially in the United States; by using these slurs the compositions are linked to the discrimination suffered by Italian communities during the major waves of migration that took place between the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries; through ‘Greaseball’ Malorgio concludes the series, with migration serving as the common theme in all three pieces.

The piece was from the beginning designed with a film adaptation in mind, which is why it relates to Malorgio’s work on music for soundtracks, documentaries and other screen projects. The issue of Italian emigration serves as an important historical reference since over 30 million Italians have emigrated since 1861; their migration has led to a global diaspora comprising between 60 and 80 million people of Italian origin. This history therefore provides the work with a particular cultural background and at the same time links it to the broader experience of leaving one’s country.

Malorgio is in charge of composing and playing the synthesizer, whereas Moreno Viglione plays guitar and also takes on the roles of production, mixing and mastering. The way in which they have worked together presents ‘Greaseball’ as part of a project rooted in historical memory and the conditions of migration. The subject of the piece goes beyond the Italian experience to cover people who have been displaced by hard circumstances all over the world. The composition addresses the link between migration, identity and the prejudice which can accompany people into a new country.

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