Review: Some artistic edits from a brand new series. We're not sure who the "unknown artist" is behind the reworks (which date from this year and 2016 respectively), but it's clear that they know what they're doing. A-side "Baby Baby Please" is a wonderfully dubbed-out and glassy-eyed revision of a lesser-known Italo-disco/Hi-NRG cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' classic "Don't Leave Me This Way" that boasts a killer vocal breakdown midway through. Over on the flip, "True Destiny" is an epic, low-slung revision of an obscure disco number that rightly emphasizes the heavy groove pushing the track forward and includes some tasty delay and echo trickery.
Review: My Mine were an Italo disco outfit from Bologna, Italy active between 1983 and 1986. Composed of core members Carlo Malatesta and Danilo Rosati plus Stefano Micheli and Darren Hatch, they reformed in 2016 with Malatesta and Rosati together and new singer Ilaria Melis - releasing the new single "Like a Fool". Their catchy 1983 hit "Hypnotic Tango" is one of the essential underground anthems of the scene, so influential that it was remixed by Frankie Knuckles (his legendary 1987 Powerhouse mix is featured on this very edition) and sampled by Detroit innovator Carl Craig.
Review: Following a successful run of disco deviance on top labels such as GAMM, Basic Fingers, Barefoot Beats and Tugboat, Toronto's Patchouli Brothers are up next on the sixth edition of the "Pleasure of Love" edit series. The "Beam Me Up" hosts have a proven track record with the ol' razor and tape, distilling rare and underappreciated cuts and turning them into peak time dancefloor gems. These four cuts on volume six are no exception. Our picks: the joyous and sunkissed "Made In France" (tres bien!), followed by the carnival energy of "Soca Danny" with its powerhouse brass section and the classic Stateside vibe of "Crossed Your Mind" on the flip.
Review: Coral City return early in 2022 with an excellent release. N&W are on duty again here with three stand-out tracks. 'Rave' the A-Side is exactly what it says on the tin. It's 808 State meets Larry Heard with a touch of Inner City. Stripped down and four to floor. Classic Roland 909 drums are met with aAhook that shakesAany dancefloor, expect early support with this. 'Speed' is a killer Nu-Disco / Boogie affair with a nod to the seedy underworld of the '80s, Picture Michelle Pfeiffer throwing shapes on the dancefloor in Scarface, and you are right on the nose. Finally, 'Cherry' is an all-out Italo / Hi-NRG workout, the linndrums, the driving arpeggio bassline and overall melancholy feel, is reminiscent of Bobby Orlando.
Review: Best are really reaching for the serious stuff here - Stopp was one of those mythical one hit wonders of the Italo disco era that somehow caught a wave on distant shores. It's not hard to see why "I'm Hungry" was huge with the early Chicago house wave and DJs like Ron Hardy. It's a surefire banger, all daggering arpeggio basslines and romantic, mystical lead lines with a catchy vocal chant line to really set the party off. The "Caramba Mix" is no slouch either, edging in a little more club-ready dynamics for those who need a more beat-oriented ingredient for their proto-house cocktail.
Review: Best Italy continues to do a wonderful job of unearthing much-sought after gems and giving them the re-press they deserve. Lily Ann was a quintessential one hit wonder of Italo disco perfection that surfaced in 1984, and "Going Crazy" captures the mood of early 80s dance music perfectly. Adding value to the release beyond the fresh mastering job and high-end modern pressing, as well as the previously released vocal and instrumental we also get treated to a dub mix of "Going Crazy" to give you even more options for dropping this impeccable slice of Italian dance music history.
Review: Moana Pozzi was primarily a pornographic actor, but during the 1980s and early 90s also notched up a number of club and crossover hits in her native Italy. This 12" from Mondo Groove brings together her three most sought-after cuts, adding in an extra unreleased treat in the shape of 'Bonita', a breezy-and-sleazy house-not-house number of the Balearic kind that was apparently a firm favourite in her 'spicy' live shows. Perhaps the best known of the included classic cuts is 'Supermacho (Extended)', where Pozzi's sleazy and dead-eyed vocals rise above a throbbing Italo-disco groove and chiming melodies. Elsewhere, 'Impulso Di Sesso' is a more dubbed-out and dreamy chunk of eccentric Italo-disco, while 'Let's Dance' is a synth-sporting, Madonna-influenced synth-pop treat.
Review: Craft Music's Good For Dance series continues with its second instalment and this one has been curated by none other than DJ Craft himself. Joining him are talented pals Schmoltz, Bogdan Ra, Romain FX, and Outra, also known as Joutro Mundo. These deep diggers are celebrated for their prowess in unearthing hidden gems and transforming them into dancefloor anthems and that's what they do here as each artist brings a unique flavour to the mix. Schmoltz's 'Luv The States' is a peak-time percussive disco jam, Bogdan Ra brings some slap-funk drums and glossy Italo synths and 'Tell Me Why' has crunchy drums and jagged synth stabs before a camp closer in 'Colosso'.
Review: Twenty nine years ago (can you believe it) Alexander Robotnick released his first album, Ce N'Est Q'Un Debut, featuring what's arguably his most defining track "Problemes D'amour" with the Harajuku-cute vocals of Martine Michellod. It's this album that has influenced countless French synth pop acts and a horde of old school electro lovers, and all this time later it's been repressed (again) by the label that first released it, Medical. Keeping the sacredness of this LP firmly intact by sticking with the keyboard-head artwork, Ce N'Est Q'Un Debut - along with Man Parish's 1982 self-titled debut - should be in all of our record collections.
Review: Shannon's debut single from her debut album, 'Let The Music Play', defined an era. It was a huge crossover hit and one of four number ones from the American singer and was the start of the huge dance-pop sound that dominated for many years after. The gated 808 drums are one of the most popular sounds of the time (also heard on the likes of Phil Collin's 'In The Air Tonight') and here they are paired with some spaced out reverb, crisp snares and big keyboard stabs. It's prickly and futurist even mow, and that vocal is always going to get any club going wild. Two versions are served up here next to the original on a slick purple vinyl.
Review: Parisian crew Discomatin have come up with some little known boogie brilliance here from Belgian producer Jay Alansky, with lyrics by Jacques Duvall and falsetto vocals from Clara Capri. It's a fine fusion of Italo disco basslines, shimmering electronics and 80s pop and r&b, with more than a hint of early house vibes also thrown in for good measure. All remastered from the original tapes, the tracks are loud and crisp and are perfect dance floor hymns. The long version is the one DJs will reach for, with its sleek lines and hypnotic leads all finished with some elastic bass.
El Signo - "Dimensiones Ocultas" (Ric Piccolo edit) (5:17)
Ultimate Warriors - "Running Away From You" (5:25)
Abaddon - "No Es Computable" (3:29)
Toby - "Ain't That Better" (Harari edit) (5:02)
The Originals - "Vamos A La Playa" (5:20)
Mike Ribas - "Secuencia Sin Consecuencias" (3:13)
Adalberto Cevasco - "Reencuentros No 2" (7:29)
Los Moesicos Del Centro - "Esquirlas" (3:41)
Divina Gloria - "Mediterranee Club" (3:58)
Mike Ribas - "Como Son Los Retratos" (Harari edit) (4:39)
Delight - "I Wanna Make You Mine" (4:54)
Gaita - "Mueve Tu Cuerpo" (8:03)
Donald - "A Ver, A Ver" (Ric Piccolo edit) (5:09)
Bad Girls - "Dance To Dance" (4:46)
Carla Rab - "Sexy Films" (6:18)
Los Musicos Del Centro - "Aire De Tropicos" (3:52)
Jorge Lopez Ruiz - "De Mama Candombe" (5:36)
Jorge Alfano - "Fuego" (7:38)
Review: Revisionist history is just as important for music as it is for geopolitics or economics, so we're more than happy to recognise this 'Alternative Vision Of Argentinian Music' throughout one of the most important decades in popular music history. Whereas popular thought tended towards Argentina being a hotbed for 'rock nacional' (national rock) music made in the post-dictatorship return to democracy, here Soundway focus on the more extreme ends of the experimental music fringes that cropped, thanks to the newfound freedoms allowed by neoliberal policies. Arthur Russell-esque disco, downtempo battle breaks, avant-garde obscurities - it's all there.
Dubbed Version - "Boogieasy" (Unreleased dub version re-edit)
Dubbed Version - "Makin Love To The Music" (Unreleased dub version re-edit)
Review: The crew behind that monumental Ilo edit which you will have heard if you stepped in a club any time over the past year come through with a new label called Lo Fi Edits, with this debut offering brandishing five super spacey disco edits for the price of a ten bag. During the trip expect to be plucked from reality with the same tight guitar string picks of Kikroko's "Man This Is My Girl", look forward to some serious robotic struts on the Italo classic "Takin' It Straight", prepare for a savvy string massage on "Space Sentry", anticipate a sloppy bass kiss upside your chops on "Boogieasy" and be sure to receive the loopy, filtered funk finale that is the "Makin Love To The Music" sucker punch. Wow.
Review: Berlin-based SIRS returns with another healthy dose of edit debauchery. If you have listened to any of Daniel Klein's previous releases, then surely you know what to expect. On the A side of Sirs Cuts EP 03 we have the mechanical '80s disco funk of 'Lady Luna', followed by the neon-lit Italo antics of 'Danger'. Over on the flip, we have a super freakin' freestyle electro joint in the form of 'A Go Go' as well as the slo-mo energy of 'Evita' closing it out.
Review: Remastered on vinyl for the first time since 1980, Kano's eponymous album is given a new life through limited edition and hand-numbered vinyl. Italian production duo Stefano Pulga and Luciano Ninzatti are considered pioneers of Italo by many, with their sound serving as a bridge to electro and breakdance later in the 1980s. Features dancefloor hits such as 'It's A War' and its instantly recognisable hook, the neon-lit night drive of 'Cosmic Voyager' and another golden oldie in the form of 'I'm Ready' with its funky vocoded goodness . This one is a new must have for disco lovers.
Review: Reissued from the 1983 original press on House Of Music - and subject to many a reissue since, for good reason - the Italian duo BWH hear their enduring classic 'Livin' Up / Stop' rereleased once more. Something about the collaborative effrots of Stefano Zito and Helene Zito made for a dizzying concoction in Italo, and the lasting interest in this single is backed up by the song's squeezy-clean mix and Hi-NRG synth rollicks. 'Stop' on the B-side, too, is slower and more rapacious, and without it, the single wouldn't be the same.
Review: Bedford-based trio Zenana never made much of an impact when they were first active in the 1980s but have become the toast of the world's media following the rediscovery of their excellent, Italo and Hi-NRG-influenced 1986 synth-pop single, 'Witches', by crate diggers a couple of years back. Here that fine track, originally produced in terraced house in Cornwall by the brother of bandmember Anita Tedder, gets the reissue treatment on Rush Hour's RSS series - thanks, in no small part, to a new (but authentically 80s sounding) extended remix from long-established Bristol DJ/production duo Bedmo Disco. Their flipside 'Spell of Love' version strips back and stretches out the track, taking cues from NYC proto-house, Martin Rushent dubs and mid-80s Shep Pettibone remixes. It's the 12" dance mix the song never had first time round.
The Creatures - "The Other World Robots" (extended version) (7:26)
Sylvi Foster - "Hookey" (6:24)
Kirlian Camera - "Blue Room" (original extended) (5:04)
Xenon - "Galaxy" (club version) (6:38)
Steel Mind - "Bad Passion" (Flemming Dalum remix) (6:09)
Review: ZYX's new vinyl compilation The Dark Side Of Italo Disco is a contrast to their numerous upbeat titles, such as the recent ZYX Italo Disco New Generation that came with an awesome complimentary mousepad. Label boss Flemming Dalum has selected some deep, mystical and melancholic tackle on this one, with timeless classics such as like the bright like neon "Eagles In The Night" by Dario Dell'Aere, the post-punk swagger of The Creatures' "The Other World Robots" or the gothic romanticism of "Blue Room" by Kirlian Camera all showing an interesting side of Italo disco music.
Review: The reissue of Electric Mind's Can We Go single brings back the early electro and post-disco vibes of 1983, captivating listeners with its Italo-Disco and Electro stylings. The album cover itself exudes retro charm, hinting at the futuristic soundscapes within. It transports listeners to a bygone era of electronic experimentation, with elements of Italo-Disco and Electro, creating a captivating sonic journey that feels both nostalgic and ahead of its time. With this reissue, fans old and new can rediscover the magic of Electric Mind's pioneering sound, a highlight to the enduring appeal of early electronic music.
Review: Semi Delicious return for their 19th outing in label head Demi Riquisimo's 'Perilous Joy' EP. The five-track release effortlessly meshes the classic influences synonymous with the now set-in-stone Semi Delicious sound with a nonetheless singular expression unique to Riquisimo themself. On the A come 'Sinewinder' & 'Direct Fix', a pair of four-to-the-floor tools. 'Sinewinder' brings a more diva-ish, big-room affected track, while 'Direct Fix' errs on the side of depth with a head-turning bassline. The flip kicks off with 'Perilous Joy', offering a nod to the sonics of the dreamy, progressive Italian house of yesteryear. Up finally is 'Thyme After Time', and with it more psychedelic house delvings. Finally, the artist lowers the pace on the Balearic chugger 'Autoglide'.
Review: First released way back in 1984 as the debut single from singer Maria Chaira Perugini - the first of three 12" singles she released before disappearing into obscurity - 'Eyes' has long been regarded as an underground Italo-disco classic. This reissue, which boasts new artwork based on the Italian singer's later singles, presents remastered versions of the single's two mixes. The A-side 'Original Mix' is top-notch, synth-powered Italo-disco, with Perugini singing in heavily accented English atop beats, bass and stab-happy lead lines that sit somewhere between classic Italo-disco and the Hi-NRG work of NYC producer Bobby Orlando. Arguably even better is the flip-side Dub, which doffs a cap towards the Afro-cosmic movement via Marimba melodies, echo-laden vocal snippets, and a more chugging, arpeggio-powered groove.
Why Did I Say Goodbye (feat Tommy '86 - bonus track) (6:09)
Holiday (bonus track) (5:05)
Fading Away (6:54)
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: Dark Entries are masters of Italo reissues and they have a number of them dropping at the moment. This one is of Garland's 'Heartbeat' which comes original from 1986. It is a true dancefloor gem that bares all the hallmarks of the era that still remain so loved today. Claudio Corradini produced it with Massimo Filippi and Art Deco singer and songwriter Claudio Valenti used this project for his more club ready sounds. 'Heartbeat' (song version) is a mid tempo tune with sleek staccato bass and a sing-along-worthy chorus that echoes Bronski Beat. The Dance Version is extended for DJs. A postcard with lyrics and liner notes is also included.
Review: Italian singer Elena Ferretti was popular on the Italo and Eurobeat scene between the early '80s, produced by the likes of Giacomo Maiolini, Mauro Farina, Sergio Dall'Ora and Giancarlo Pasquini. One of her best known hits is the song "My World" (as Sophie). Here we have a reissue of Feretti's highly valued Italo classic (to those who know) in the form of "Witch" under the Helen alias - with which she used for half a dozen or so tracks in her career. A typically neon-lit Italo disco anthem of the timeless variety, with additional remixes by Centre Neptune chief Flemming Dalum and mad Aussie Hysteric - both of them giving the track a nice reshape for modern dancefloors.
Review: Who doesn't love an obscure and hi NRG disco stomper from the mid-nineties? This one's been unearthed by the Bordello A Parigi crew and it was produced by the one and only Bobby Orlando. It has glistening disco arps and throwback drum machine sounds powering it along with a great female vocal singing lines like 'You can watch them making love on video.' The opening Digital Mix is the best for us but the V&S cut gets a little more pumping for the peak time so will also come in handy.
I'm Ready (Mousse T extended club remix instrumental) (7:38)
Review: There are few bigger or more celebrated Italo-disco singles than Kano's 'I'm Ready', which became an anthem on underground U.S dancefloors (as well as in its native Italy) following its release in 1980. Here it gets a new pressing courtesy of re-established original Italo-disco label Full Time Production, with Kano's original mix - a soaring, synth-heavy sing-along driven forwards by waves of arpeggio-style synth sounds and insatiably funky bass - being joined by a trio of 21st century revisions. Mousse T delivers vocal and instrumental takes that cleverly chop-up and loop up key sections to re-imagine the track as a surging funky house number smothered in vintage Italo-disco synth sounds, while FrescoEdits stretches out an extra-percussive disco groove before throwing in choice synth sounds and vocals from Kano's peerless original mix.
Review: Some suitably sizzling summer fare here from the dusty-fingered Thank You crew, whose latest reissue focuses on a little-known, house-era Italo-disco gem from 1990. First time round, the single was a private press seven-inch, meaning that only a limited number of copies were ever pressed up. In its original vocal mix form 'Tengo La Sangre Caliente' blurs the boundaries between Euro-synth-pop, colourful Italo-house and Italo-disco. It's good, but the accompanying instrumental mix is even better. Over on the flip, Castro delivers two killer re-edits: an extra-percussive version that emphasises the more house and Flamenco-inspired elements of the 1990 original ('Tengo Las Castanetas Caliente'), and a sweat-soaked 'beats' version for those who like getting busy in the mix.
Review: An anthem often heard at Mexico's Sonidos movement parties, "Sweet Magic" was originally released in 1989 at the tail end of Hi-NRG and when house music emerged. Produced by Los Angeles-based duo Michael J & Abbe Kanter, better known as Dreams Come True (aka Tyrants in Therapy) with singer Stacy Dunne, it has remained an underground hit ever since. Faithfully remastered from the original tapes, which Berlin's Thank You managed to find and digitise in Los Angeles, there's the inclusion of a new stripped down extended mix by Castro (Sound Metaphors) using the original stems.
Review: Rarely does Italo disco ever bare its soul so sensitively. Kriss' 'Hey Mister Mister' was released in 1988, and while the Italian genre's first wave then may have been facing its death knells, that didn't stop producer and songwriter Raff Todesco form making his absolute most vulnerable best of the terminal sound. A frank drum machine makes for a firm but fair bedrest for an easygoing, clean-channelled guitar vamps, which only languidly peak out of the mix at select points, suggesting an ease wrought from years of yearning. Todesco's original vocals steal all the limelight, as unruffled synths truss appeals to spontaneous getaways and falsetto yearnings for the right guy.
Review: Stockholm exports Elfenberg find themselves on Bordello here with four cuts of mind-expanding and life-enriching synth goodness. The skilled duo kick off with the high-speed arps and tight kicks of the retro-future smoother 'Forever Alone' then slow things down to a more Balearic and breezy vibe on 'Conga Coronation' with its finger clicks and lush pads. There is soft acid magic at the heart of 'Sphere Of Missing Out' while 'Cosmic Tribune' lulls you into a nice widescreen cosmic world of tumbling chord sequences and warped bass.
Review: Good luck... except, we're much likelier to be the ones who'll need the good grace of fortune, as opposed to the Melbourne mates' duo GL (which, we think, stands for Good Luck - we could be wrong). First released on the EP cassette 'Love Hexagon' - described as a homemade homage to chart-unfriendly funk and 80s romance dance - this contemporary showstopper of a tune now comes to limited edition 7" vinyl and recalls the pair's slick penchant for sporty major-minor chords and convalescent handclaps, conspiring to achieve a modern take on boogie and synth funk. With buskin socks and track headbands worn aflock, the pair pose in the middle of the basketball court, as 'Take Me Back' and 'When You See' set the soul alight by way of a nostalgic adolescent flambe.
Review: Antoni Maiovvi's latest synth EP 'Birds of Paradise' is a dark, brooding release that draws inspiration from classic horror soundtracks, avian themes and early synthwave. Like something between an 80s title theme for the mothman and a modernist fever dream for automobiles taking flight, each track here is named after a quirkily-named bird, whether that be the Quetzal or the Streamertail. In keeping with the thermal-riding and soaring feel of the music, every track contains subtle birdsong as its texture, not to mention beautifully danceable yet minimal melodies.
Review: It's been a minute since we had a record from Donny Benet, the Australian singer, songwriter, bass guitar ace, disco evangelist and entertainer. Turns out it's always worth the wait, with Infinite Desire not only classic Benet - albeit on a smooth, sultry, easygoing tip - but also a record that marks the beginning of a new chapter for this beloved character. His first on a freshly minted indie label he set up. A fun odyssey with added glitter and swirl, like almost everything the man touches, Infinite Desires is inspired by a simpler time, when blazers with shoulder pads were nightclub attire, hair was big, and overbites ruled the dancefloor. But what really stands out is how right these sounds still feel today. This is no pastiche, let alone parody, but DIY innovation that serves to remind us of what groove really means.
Review: Salentino's You'll Be In Paradise', originally released in 1985, receives a revitalising treatment on Giorgio Records, offering four distinct versions that cater to aficionados of disco and nu-disco, with a touch of Italo-disco nostalgia. Side-1 kicks off with the iconic vocal version, serving as an underground classic in the realm of Italo-house. Its infectious groove and euphoric melodies transport listeners to a dancefloor paradise. The Franz Scala remix on the same side elevates the track with a more serious bassline and a heightened focus on the instrumental elements, offering a fresh perspective while retaining the essence of the original. On the B-side, the instrumental version allows the mesmerizing melodies to take center stage, providing a captivating journey for those who prefer to let the music speak for itself. The Casionova edit rounds off the record with a rendition that stays true to the original's tempo while delving deeper into the melodic elements, creating a harmonious balance between nostalgia and contemporary sensibilities. Salentino's You'll Be In Paradise EP showcases the enduring appeal of Italo-disco while breathing new life into a classic track for modern audiences.
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