Disco/Nu-Disco charts

Review: Desire shares Escape, their new album written and recorded in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California. Inspired by the ultra-vivid world of 1970s giallo films, they wrote the soundtrack of their dreams using their favourite musical instruments: Minikorg, Jupiter 8, 909, Mellotron, Simmons Rhythm Modules, String Machine, a D-50 & Fender Rhodes. Though the set of inspirations are half a century old, the actual sound of this 13 track EBM, Italo and synthpop monster is decidedly contemporary, preferring wompy, sidechainer kick-carriers and basses abuzz, while huge gated impacts collide with steamier intakes of breath and glassy Italo elements. The ineffably laid-back quality of synthwave and pop blends well with the noirer, gothic components and are nicely joined together via the giallo theme.

Review: Sally Shapiro are actually a duo, and the name is actually a pseudonym. Besides, they are essentially in the business of blowing every other synthpop act out of the park by this point. Packed with emotion and swelling refrains, 'Sad Cities' is a universal lamentation for failed metropoli the world over. Opener 'Forget About You' sets the tone for the pair's home-recorded masterpiece, on which the lead singer's voice takes raspy centre stage. Regret seems to be the central theme, peronalising our collective suffering:

Review: After breaking a decade-long hiatus by releasing the Sad Cities album last year, Swedish disco mavericks Sally Shapiro have been on a roll through their association with Italians Do It Better. Jonny Jewel's label is the perfect home for their Italo-informed, pop-baiting sound, and now they're back with a new single called 'Rent'. It's another seductive excursion into the future-past of electronic disco, with the extended mix on the A-side complemented by the instrumental on the B-side and a team-up between NICOLAAS and Steve Moore for a remix. Meanwhile, Italoconnection step up for a version of Sad Cities track 'Believe In Me', rounding out another strong EP from Shapiro and Italians Do It Better alike.

Review: Desire once again demonstrate their prowess in the field of coldwave synth escapism with this new long player for Italians Do It Better. As soon as 'Black Latex' kicks into gear you know you're in for a red-lit thrill ride that captures all the seduction and mystery of nocturnal body music played the old-skool way. The kit list features such staples as the Jupiter 8, D-50 and Mellotron, while a revolving cast of ghostly vocals impart their message in English, French and Korean. This multi-lingual vibe only serves to take us further away from familiar territory into the displaced surrealism of the sound world Desire like to call home.