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Independent label, publishing & management

Talking Cat

Talking and singing since 1977.

For 50 years we’ve been scouting artists destined for stardom.
We were born on the wave of post-punk and Italo disco, experimented with jazz, dance and pop, and made our name in rock, hip hop and songwriting.
Today, with new genres and new talents born on social media, we approach our productions with an overall vision: every track works both in the few seconds of a reel and in its extended club version.

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Palmito Recording Studio – logo

1978–1986

Palmito Recording Studio

Palmito is the small four-track analogue recording studio that Roberto Galli built in the basement of a house in San Donato Milanese – the same basement where Radio Milano Sud was born in 1976, the free radio station Galli had co-founded and whose music programming he ran.
During sessions, the family cat curls up in the control room. It has one curious trait: when it meows, it seems to talk.
That is where the name Talking Cat comes from.
Right after Palmito opened, Galli began working with producer Mauro Spina, a collaboration that led to Mario Acquaviva’s EP for Ariston (1983).
His first official production, in 1982, was Nicola Guiducci, founder and long-time DJ of Milan’s Plastic club, with his band Niagara Falls; Galli then saw him through to a solo deal with Ariston Music, where he released Ahio! (1984) as “Nicola’s”, produced by Mauro Spina.
At Palmito, with Maurizio Marsico and Berlin singer and fashion designer Adorabile Andrea, Galli produced Frisk the Frog’s Rap ’n’ Roll in 1983, starring the frog Massimo Mattioli drew for Frigidaire: one of the first Italian rap records, released in France in 1984 with the limited edition of Musicomix, launched in Paris.
The Milan post-punk duo Schwarz of Galiorka (which later gave rise to Ufo Piemontesi) recorded their album Goatsucker, self-released in 1984.
Skiantos, the legendary Cramps Records band, recorded the demos for their 1984 album Ti spalmo la crema.
Stefano “Sbarbo” Cavedoni, who fronted Skiantos alongside Freak Antoni, also had his two theatre shows, Asino chi legge and Se mi piangi sul collo, produced by Galli.
In 1986 Galli and Walter Tesoriere recorded, mixed and played (programmed drums and synths) on the Gaetano Liguori Ensemble’s People of Eritrea (Bull Records), with Gaetano Liguori, Gigi Cifarelli, Guido Mazzon, Beppe Sciuto and Enzo Lo Greco.

Roberto Galli at Palmito Recording Studio, 1979Mario Acquaviva – EP (Ariston, 1983)Nicola Guiducci, lead singer of Niagara FallsNicola’s – Ahio! (Ariston, 1984)Frisk the Frog – Rap ’n’ Roll (1983)Schwarz of Galiorka, 1984Skiantos – Ti spalmo la crema (demo)Stefano “Sbarbo” Cavedoni – Asino chi leggeStefano “Sbarbo” Cavedoni – Se mi piangi sul colloGaetano Liguori Ensemble – People of Eritrea, 1986
Mario Acquaviva – EP 1983 cover

1983

Mario Acquaviva · Mauro Spina

Mario Acquaviva’s EP for Ariston was produced by Mauro Spina, with Ernesto Vitolo on keyboards and Faso, later of Elio e le Storie Tese, on bass; Roberto Galli coordinated the studio work. On 31 May 1983 Renzo Arbore reviewed it in Corriere della Sera, calling Acquaviva “acqua fresca” (“fresh water”, in a good sense) on the Italian pop scene; in 2019 Archeo Recordings reissued it as Notturno italiano.

Mario Acquaviva – recensione
Rap ’n’ Roll – Frisk the Frog cover

1983

Frisk the Frog · Monofonic Orchestra

Rap ’n’ Roll (Jumbo Records) gives a voice to Frisk the Frog, the frog Massimo Mattioli created in the pages of Frigidaire, and is among the first rap records released in Italy. It was produced by Maurizio Marsico and Roberto Galli with Adorabile Andrea. Its video, directed by Luca Setti and Marina Spada with photography by Toni Meneguzzo, is among the first Italian music videos and was aired by Carlo Massarini on Mister Fantasy on Rai 1. Marsico, trained at the Milan Conservatory, was Frigidaire’s musical reference and had already released Music Design (Italian Records, 1981) with his Monofonic Orchestra.

Maurizio Marsico, Adorabile Andrea, Mr Eko – Frisk the Frog
Lone Rider – Bill Goins cover

1983–1986

Endor Production

Endor was the production team of Roberto Galli, Walter Tesoriere, Massimo Noè and Pino Santapaga, working at Baby Records’ Studio Green in Via Timavo, Milan; their productions include Bill Goins’ Lone Rider (Market Records, 1985). In 1984 and 1985, when Baby Records won Sanremo twice, Endor prepared the label’s artists for their live performances at the Festival. Italo disco was topping charts abroad, and Baby Records was home to Rondò Veneziano, Gazebo, Den Harrow and the Mixage compilations.

Ringo & Finzy Kontini – Save a Dream, 1986
Sound of Sixties – Ringo cover

1984–1986

Ringo

Before becoming a DJ and a TV and radio host, Ringo was a regular at Palmito with his band, The Bats. Sound of Sixties (Taqua) came out in 1984, produced by Roberto Galli; in 1986 came Save a Dream by Ringo & Finzy Kontini (AMD Records), written and produced by the Endor team. With Galli he would go on to found Hollywood Rythmoteque. On TV he has hosted Doctor Ringo on Rock TV and, since 2018, Drive Up on Italia 1; today he is artistic director of Virgin Radio, where he hosts Revolver, and presents Garage Revolver on Virgin Radio TV.

Ringo & Finzy Kontini – Save a Dream, 1986
Figli del caos – Two Fingerz cover

2004–2010

Two Fingerz

The duo of Danti and Roofio was produced by Talking Cat from 2004 to 2010. In 2005, together with Ringo and the Two Fingerz crew, Talking Cat founded the Karmadillo Concept Factory, a recording and production studio in Paderno Dugnano, just outside Milan, which became a reference point for artists such as Shade, Tormento, Fabri Fibra, J-Ax and Fedez. During the Karmadillo years Talking Cat also published the CD Flash by Contro/Corrente, with lyrics by Angelo and Carmelo Sarda and Emanuele Lacagnina and music by Luca Porzio; Roofio and Danti are among the writers of Underground. Figli del caos (Sony Music) came out in 2007, with Dargen D’Amico guesting on three tracks, followed by Il disco finto (2009). Later the duo reached No. 1 on the FIMI chart with Two Fingerz V (2014) and co-wrote Fabio Rovazzi’s Andiamo a comandare and Tutto molto interessante. Danti also writes for J-Ax, Fedez and Annalisa; Roofio has produced for J-Ax (Voglio la mamma, 2021), Fedez, Fabri Fibra and Mondo Marcio, among others.

Two Fingerz – Il disco finto, 2009Two Fingerz – Non prima delle 6:10, 2009Two Fingerz feat. Dargen D’Amico & Joe Fallisi – Oltre il mare, 2008Two Fingerz – Certe cose, 2007Two Fingerz – Sulle spalle dei giganti, 2007Two Fingerz – Figli del caos (singolo), 2007Contro/Corrente – FlashTwo Fingerz – Troppo forte, 2007Two Fingerz ft. Dargen D’Amico – Cavi e problemiTwo Fingerz ft. Vacca – Cioccolato
Di Vizi di Forma Virtù – Dargen D’Amico cover

2008

Dargen D’Amico

Di vizi di forma virtù, produced by Talking Cat and distributed by Universal, is regarded as the first double album in Italian rap. A former member of Sacre Scuole with Gué Pequeno and Jake La Furia, Dargen also writes for others: he co-wrote Fedez and Francesca Michielin’s Chiamami per nome, second at the 2021 Sanremo Festival, Mille by Fedez, Achille Lauro and Orietta Berti (2021) and Annalisa’s Dieci. As a performer he took part in Sanremo in 2022 with Dove si balla, in 2024 and 2026 and has been a judge on X Factor.

Dargen D’Amico – Sms alla Madonna, 2008
Jaspers – Mondocomio, 2012

2012–2021

Jaspers

A Milan rock band whose members met at CPM, Jaspers were spotted by PFM’s Franco Mussida, who mentored their early steps and co-published their debut album, Mondocomio (2012). With Talking Cat and Universal distribution they released Mondocomio and Non ce ne frega niente (2019), with producers including Cass Lewis (Skunk Anansie), Jason Rooney (Negramaro) and Diego Maggi (Elio e le Storie Tese), who produced In fondo al mar and Mr. Melody. Mussida wrote L’Happiness, performed with Luca & Paolo. From 2017 to 2021 Jaspers were the resident band on Rai 2’s Quelli che il calcio, which closed every episode with their Palla di neve.

Jaspers – Non ce ne frega niente, 2019Jaspers – In fondo al mar (EP), 2013Jaspers – Il collo del re, 2014Jaspers – Mastica, 2016Jaspers – Mr. Melody, 2017Jaspers – Tonalità, 2018Jaspers – Vodka e noccioline, 2018Jaspers – Palla di neve, 2013Jaspers feat. Luca & Paolo – L’Happiness, 2019Jaspers – Milioni di stelle, 2019Jaspers – Palla di neve (live), Quelli che il calcio

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From 1977 to today

Read the Story

  1. 1976

    Radio Milano Sud is born, founded by entrepreneur Aldo Baietti with Roberto and Giancarlo Galli.
    Roberto runs its music programming.

  2. 1977

    From radio to production: Roberto Galli starts producing records and music videos under the name Talking Cat, inspired by the family cat that seems to talk when it meows.

  3. 1978

    Palmito Recording Studio opens: demos, records, jingles and the early-80s post-punk scene.

  4. 1983

    Italo disco with the Endor team at Baby Records: days and nights in the studio, learning the trade alongside the best of Italy’s export pop.
    It is the label of Rondò Veneziano, Gazebo’s I Like Chopin and Den Harrow; in 1984 and 1985 it wins the Sanremo Festival.

  5. 1987

    On 15 January the Black Submarine night, started in 1986 at Synthesis with Ringo and Giorgio Baldaccini, moves to the Hollywood club, at Corso Como 15, with the party Black Submarine goes to Hollywood.
    The Hollywood Rythmoteque era begins, the club of “Milano da bere”: David Bowie, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Naomi Campbell and Gianni Versace pass through; that same year Prince celebrates his birthday there, and in later years its guests also include Russell Crowe, George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio.
    Then dance: productions with Turatti and Chiaregato, a CBS deal for 12 extended-mix tracks and a management arm for DJs.

  6. 2007

    Two Fingerz on Sony Music; in 2008 Dargen D’Amico on Universal.

  7. 2012

    Jaspers: two albums with Universal and the resident band on Rai 2's Quelli che il calcio.

  8. 2022

    Inciso signs with the label and wins the Critics' Prize at Il Cantagiro.

  9. Today

    More artists, a catalogue that runs from alternative post-punk to The City Review and music made for social media.

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