Lesiman – High Tension Vol. 1 (1973, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1 Cupa Atmosfera 3:25
A2 Ricognizione Sulle Macerie 2:25
A3 Sbarramento 2:40
A4 Cammino Incerto 2:42
A5 Confine 2:30
A6 Incubo Di Prigionia 2:55
B1 Reticolato 2:33
B2 Elenco Dei Superstiti 2:10
B3 Integrazione 1:50
B4 Insidia 2:18
B5 Restless 1:28
B6 Ricatto Continuo 1:50
B7 Panico 3:40

Directed By – Lesiman
Music By – Lesiman

As the inaugural record of the series, Lesiman's High Tension Vol. 1 (1973) is a foundational document of Italian library music's darker side. Composed by Paolo Renosto with additional input from collaborators like Romolo Grano, Sandro Brugnolini, and Guido Baggiani, this album is a must-have "holy grail" for collectors.

This volume immediately establishes the defining mood of the series: anxious, often suffocating atmospheres crafted for use in film and television to underscore dramatic or oppressive scenes. The overall style is highly evocative, blending elements of experimental music with dark, hypnotic rhythms.

Tracks like "Cupa Atmosfera" (Gloomy Atmosphere) and "Ricognizione Sulle Macerie" (Reconnaissance on the Ruins) perfectly illustrate the album's focus on war themes, military action, and urban decay, utilizing sparse instrumentation, foreboding percussion, and ominous sound textures. Vol. 1 is less groovy than later entries and more relentlessly intense, serving as a masterclass in musical dread.

Lesiman – High Tension Vol. 2 (1973, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1 Preludio Ossessivo 2:57
A2 Saccheggio 1:56
A3 Contatto Umano 2:30
A4 Senza Appello 2:22
A5 Inesorabile Condanna 2:27
A6 Motivo Ricorrente 1:50
A7 Sveglia Tragica 2:21
B1 Achtung! 2:13
B2 Disegno Scabroso 2:30
B3 Traffico D'Armi 2:30
B4 Conflitto 2:20
B5 Avvicinamento 2:24
B6 Furia 2:03
B7 Milano '72 2:15

Directed By – Lesiman
Music By – Lesiman

High Tension Vol. 2 (released on Vedette Records in 1973) is an earlier, equally essential entry in Paolo Renosto's (as Lesiman) series of suspense-driven Library Music.

Where Vol. 3 tended towards gritty funk, Vol. 2 often features a sound that is more experimental, leaning heavily into Psychedelic Jazz and tense, avant-garde soundscapes. The album is an immersive journey into early-70s electro-acoustic instrumentation, utilizing synthesizers, dissonant strings, and sharp orchestral percussion to build claustrophobic atmospheres.

Tracks like "Milano '72" are particularly renowned for their menacing, driving energy and hypnotic rhythms, making this volume a cornerstone for anyone exploring the dark, sophisticated underbelly of Italian Library music. It’s an ideal soundtrack for dramatic scenes of surveillance, chase sequences, or unsettling urban landscapes.

Lesiman – High Tension Vol. 3 (1978, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1 Bassorilievo 2:28
A2 Fiaccole Di Pino 3:30
A3 A Caro Prezzo 2:36
A4 Irruzione 2:46
A5 Presunta Minaccia 2:10
A6 Ritrovamento 2:27
A7 Trepido E Ilare Giorno 2:28
B1 Padmina 4:07
B2 Rosso E Nero 2:09
B3 Faci Notturne 1:55
B4 Arrocco 2:10
B5 Angolo Critico 2:02
B6 Barker 1:46
B7 Irruzione (2a Versione) 2:46

Directed By – Lesiman
Music By – Lesiman

High Tension Vol. 3 is a classic piece of Italian Library Music from 1978, crafted by composer Paolo Renosto under his celebrated pseudonym Lesiman.As part of a series intended for use in films, television, and radio, this album delivers exactly what its title promises: a collection of instrumental cues designed to evoke suspense, drama, and anxiety.
The music fuses elements of Jazz, Psychedelic Funk, and cinematic Score with a distinct 1970s sound palette. Expect sharp, driving rhythms, tense string arrangements, and unsettling electronic textures. Tracks like "Irruzione" (Raid) and "Rosso E Nero" (Red and Black) are perfect examples of the album's urgent, gritty atmosphere, making it a favorite among crate-diggers and fans of Italian crime thrillers (Poliziotteschi).
Vol. 3 is less about melody and more about mood and rhythmic propulsion, offering a compelling soundtrack for hidden scenes of intrigue, espionage, or dark introspection. It remains an essential, though often overlooked, gem of the Italian library canon.

Lesiman – High Tension Vol. 4 (1978, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1 Indomitus 3:01
A2 Ombre Opposte 2:29
A3 Due Sfere 1:58
A4 Stasis 3:10
A5 Aria Rossa 2:27
A6 Immemore 2:12
A7 Cordelia 2:22
B1 Lembi 2:21
B2 Intreccio 2:47
B3 Contrazione 2:25
B4 Seconda Denuncia 3:31
B5 Concretezza 1:46
B6 Opposizione 2:26
B7 Bassorilievo (2a Versione) 2:27

Directed By – Lesiman
Music By – Lesiman

High Tension Vol. 4, released in 1978, marks the final installment in Paolo Renosto's (as Lesiman) dramatic library music series. Arriving later than the first two volumes, it shows Lesiman integrating the increasingly sophisticated studio technology of the late 70s while maintaining the series' core mood of suspense and intrigue.

This volume generally features a slightly more polished and electronic sound compared to the raw, avant-garde feel of the earlier LPs. Tracks showcase a complex blend of jazz-funk drumming, synthesizer textures, and cinematic orchestration, hinting at the emerging Euro-funk and disco trends without sacrificing the underlying tension.

Key tracks like "Due Sfere" (Two Spheres) and "Ombre Opposte" (Opposite Shadows) are great examples of the album's atmosphere, utilizing tight instrumental grooves that loop and escalate to create a sense of mechanical urgency or existential threat. Vol. 4 serves as a fascinating transition point, blending the composer's academic background with his mastery of commercial, yet artistic, sound design for the Italian screen.