Casino Royale on DeBaser

The Profile

Casino Royale is a Milan-based Italian band formed in 1987 by Giuliano Palma and Ferdinando “Ferdi” Masi. Starting from ska/rocksteady, they evolved into a distinctive blend of reggae, hip hop, dub, drum’n’bass and electronic soul. Milestones include Dainamaita (Italian lyrics breakthrough), Sempre più vicini, CRX (last with Palma), and the comeback Reale. Collaborations include DJ Gruff, RadioGladio and Ben Young; they played the International Ska Festival, Arezzo Wave, and opened for Vasco Rossi in 1990.

Formed: Milan, 1987 (Giuliano Palma, Ferdinando “Ferdi” Masi). Style: ska/rocksteady fused with reggae, hip hop, dub, drum’n’bass and electronics. Key albums: Dainamaita (1993), Sempre più vicini (1995), CRX (1997), Reale (2006). Performed at London’s International Ska Festival, Arezzo Wave; opened for Vasco Rossi (1990). Longtime collaborators include DJ Gruff, RadioGladio, Ben Young.

DeBaser’s reviews paint Casino Royale as pioneering shape-shifters: from ska/rocksteady roots to dub, hip hop, and drum’n’bass textures. Key stops: Dainamaita, Sempre più vicini, CRX, and the reunion album Reale. Their influence on the Italian scene is repeatedly stressed, with props to MC Alioscia, Giuliano Palma, and DJ Gruff. Verdict: eclectic, forward-thinking, and still vital.

Notable Quotes

❝ CRX is an album from the future, and we're talking about 1997; it is an album unique in its own way because it is endowed with a unique sound in its genre... yes, but which genre? Categorizing it as a hip-hop album would be too easy and carefree, defining it as an alternative, technological and experimental album wouldn't be right, so we can define it with a single genre, the genre of Casino Royale!

❝ We are faced with an album that if it probably had been released recently, it would have gained more followers and recognition for the band that coined it... reflective, dirty, paranoid, and devilishly deep and fascinating... this is "CRX".

❝ Ultimately, here we are faced with a small masterpiece that contains many nuances ranging from Ska to funk, masterfully transitioning through Hip-Hop and also Nu-jazz and drawing a bit from the dark rhythm of some basement or club in rainy England (just look at Massive Attack and Portishead to name just two).

❝ What makes this album special? The complete abandonment of the danceable ska of the group's early days and a greater openness to stylistic contamination (over the years the album would be discussed as one of the very first examples of Italian "crossover").