italo-disco

VA – Italo Disco Donna II [MGLP119]

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Mondo Groove is one of the leading purveys or disco, Italo and nu-disco and it has been for ages. This new and limited 12″ is packed with four hard to find gems from between the years of 1983 and 1988. They have all been taken from the original master tapes for this special reissue. Camomilla’s chugging and snappy ‘Queen Of The Night’ opens up with a squelchy arp and heavenly melodies, Noa-Noa gets more cosmic and De Dion offers the drama and neon colour of ‘Sexy Cola’ with a fine extended version while Sandy Samuel’s ‘I Like Sado Music’ is a loose limbed percussive workout.

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VA – Italo Disco Donna II [MGLP119]

Transvolta – Disco Computer [RV009]

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Dan Lacksman is a Belgian electronic music pioneer who co-founded the Electro Pop Dance formation Telex and is credited for their classic ‘Moskow Diskow.’ He also worked under the Transvolta name but put out only one single, 1978’s impossibly hard-to-find classic ‘Disco Computer.’ Dan himself has carefully remastered the original for this special 12″ reissue. It’s still a retro-future sound all these years later with the signature talk box vocals and sleek drum machines under cosmic synths. On the flip is a long version of ‘You Are Disco’ which is a similar vibe but with a slightly more lively groove and vocal. Two serene dancefloor gems by any standards.

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Transvolta – Disco Computer [RV009]

Dark Vektor – Banshees Records 13 [BNS013]

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Dark Vektor is a veteran DJ/producer from Terrassa (Spain). Here he make his debut release for the Spanish label from Toledo, Banshees Records. The EP drives through from electro, new beat, italo and EBM. Includes also a Ramon Moya remix.

Dark Vektor – Banshees Records 13 [BNS013]

B.W.H. – Livin’ Up / Stop [HM1001/R]

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An essential part of the European disco history… “Livin’ Up” and “Stop” by B.W.H., these two tracks are true ‘milestones’ and Italo-Disco in the purest form. B.W.H is Stefano Zito (aka Black Way), Stefano Galante, and the late Carlo Favilli, “Stop” is dubbed “the best B-side ever!”, but “Livin’ Up” is also incredible, making this vinyl the hottest 12″ ever assembled in the Italo Domain and for decades incredibly underrated. 

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B.W.H. – Livin’ Up / Stop [HM1001/R]

Hypnosis – Pulstar / End Title (Blade Runner) [MAXI1109-12]

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The song „Pulstar“ by Hypnosis from 1983 is considered to be one of the great highlights of the Italo Disco Spacesynth era and is now released as a colored 12“ vinyl in a strictly limited edition.

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Hypnosis – Pulstar / End Title (Blade Runner) [MAXI1109-12]

Vibe Impact – Awakening [MRI023]

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Vibe Impact is back with two italo body tracks, cutted for the dancefloor. “Awakening”, more cosmic, is carried by powerful lead and pad. “Animal Dance” seems to be the dark side of the artist, more industrial, more metallic but always cosmic. Bizzarro Universe delivers a pure Italo ravy remix. To close the release, Marcus Christiansen brings an even more marked cosmic side, always carried by pad that he masters marvelously.

Vibe Impact – Awakening [MRI023]

Ricardo Baez – On And On EP [BAP185]

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Ricardo Baez draws on many influences. Electro, house, synth-pop and italo are pillars of the Italian artist’s unique style. The Florence based musician arrives at the Bordello with ‘On and On’. Featuring Curses, the opener is a floor-filler. Known for his EBM-stained wave works, this vocal mix is a late night Summer romp. Crisp percussion and warm bass lines usher in addictive hooks and throaty vocals from Luca Venezia. The original version follows. Lyrics are stripped back allowing the upbeat synth play to take the limelight. Cascading notes announce the flip. “Sfida Notturna” is built on delicate drum patterns and arc of string before breaking to a heady dawn. “Dietro L’orizzonte” brings the curtain down. Toms and cinematic synthlines introduce rasping rhythms and vocoder samples. The piece is perfectly measured, fragile keys ascend next cymbal crashes and computer voice. Sumptuous sounds from the north of Italy.

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Ricardo Baez – On And On EP [BAP185]

Jack Pattern – Nothing Brings Us Back EP [GR12110]

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2023 official repress of the EP originally released in 2015 by the Swiss/German production team “Jack Pattern”. Electronic music with italo-disco influences at the highest level.

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Jack Pattern – Nothing Brings Us Back EP [GR12110]

Patrizia Pellegrino – Musica Spaziale [MISSYOU026]

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An Italian disco classic produced by one of Italy’s top disco pop entrepreneurs – Constantino Paolini – featuring the voice of Vesuvian actress and TV personality Patrizia Pellegrino. “Musica Spaziale” is a fast paced synthy disco number adorned with signorina Pellegrino’s silky smooth vocals, featuring lusty cosmic nuanced lyrics that arguably invite the listener to some form of astral bliss in the company of the blond starlet. A classic amongst collectors and specialists of the genre, made available to your record collections once again without having to sell any of your kidneys. In addition, also an extended edit, that patiently slows down the tempo but also extends this cosmic climax on the dancefloor in a manner respectful to the original masterpiece, allowing the dancers to savor every moment of this celestial voyage without all the rush of the 7″ version . Flip it and things get propelled in direction to some other acidic orbits with DJ Asshole’s tripped out downtempo 8′ intervention.

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Patrizia Pellegrino – Musica Spaziale [MISSYOU026]

Mr. Master – A Dog in the Night [HM1002/R]

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Groundbreaking release from the early 80’s produced with rather primitive synthesizers with as result “A Dog in the Night” a track with a thick sound, unusual for its time. Credited as “the sound of the future” in those days and sounding relevant today. The piece produced by Stefano Zito and arranged by Stefano Galante is after 40 years among the favorites of collectors and followers of Italo-Disco, being noted among the songs to be re-edited by Danilo Braca, the New York based Italian Dj known for his creativity.

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Mr. Master – A Dog in the Night [HM1002/R]

Panthera – Synthesizer Hits II [BAP182]

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Panthera returns to Bordello, their identity still shrouded in secrecy. Following on from the four tracks of Synthesizer Hits, this unknown entity is back with a further quarter for Synthesizer Hits Vol. 2. Rich melodies and pulsing percussion characterise the infectious “Demon”. Key shifts and samples linger as textured toms and crisp snares keep the energy high. The tempo lowers for the considered “Stallion”. Bright and hopeful bars ascend before breaking to shimmering dawn. The juddering arpeggios and drum rolls of “Newlook” draw us back to the dancefloor. Melodies glow overhead in this celestial composition. The finale is steeped in the unforgettable tradition of italo. A heartwarming tribute to spaghetti dance, Panthera delivers an addictive rift, sparking synthwork and rhythms that are crisp.

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Panthera – Synthesizer Hits II [BAP182]

Bionda e Lupo – La Deutsche Vita LP [BELLADEVI]

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A warm rain in August, the cool feeling of soft ice cream on the lips, golden light and tender smiles. The sweet scent of strawberries, people laughing in the backyard and autumn is already in the air. This is how the music of Bionda e Lupo feels. Joy and melancholy, warmth and goosebumps – that is “La Deutsche Vita”. Six summers – ten songs for the double album by the Berlin couple. Lively German lyrics allowing us to immerse ourselves in the world of Gertalo, as we surf on synths in the New German Wave and refresh ourselves with a splash of cheeky Schlager pop.

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Bionda e Lupo – La Deutsche Vita LP [BELLADEVI]

Koto – Visitors [MAXI1100-12]

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The track “Visitors” from 1985 is probably one of the best songs of the Italo Disco era and is now going to be released in a new guise on colored vinyl in a strictly limited edition. An absolute must-have for all die-hard fans of the Italo Disco and Spacesynth scene.

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Koto – Visitors [MAXI1100-12]

Martin Matiske – Dimension Phantasy EP [BAP183]

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Martin Matiske returns to Bordello A Parigi with a track that first appeared over a decade ago. Released on his first album on Stilleben, “Dimension Phantasy” has been dusted down and given a new lease of life. This extended version bubbles with the same energy as the original. Steady kicks give way to scaling chords as a racing piece of future gazing brilliance takes hold. Melodies are addictive, yet cold, with a common ground between disco and electro being forged. Sharing the 12” real estate are two good friends, each offering their own remix, Captain Mustache and Play Paul.

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Martin Matiske – Dimension Phantasy EP [BAP183]

Vuta – Crystal Hero [MRI020]

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Vuta is back on Mélopée Records with an incredible body release. “Crystal Hero” & “Aerie” are two italo body tracks, perfectly representing the current dancing Italo. “Filta Poly” is a sweet track, more sensisitive, but always keepin’ the dancefloor bubbling. Includes a trancey remix by Plexi Glass and an EBM remake from Brazilian artist Neurotiker.

Vuta – Crystal Hero [MRI020]

Clio – Eyes [PLT799MIX]

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The decade of the 80s is revived through recordings like “Eyes” that allow you to travel through the music and trigger those old emotions of innocence, joy and adventure. “Eyes” by Clio contains all the emotions that a dance-pop song should contain plus the essential element of mystery, a kind of magic that takes place between the chorus and the bass line, a shot in the dark drizzly night of the Italo-Disco.

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Clio – Eyes [PLT799MIX]

Art Fine – Dark Silence (Radondo Edit) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

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Next up on Slow Motion’s ‘A UFO’ free edit series is Radondo’s rework of Art Fine’s arcane Italo gem ‘Dark Silence’. Careful to retain the original’s elusive energy, he re-arranges the track’s structure to focus on the dark, stormy lows. Building to the infectious synth line of the original, Radondo incorporates a few of his signature atmospheric tones and synth Arps, culminating in a respectful homage to the brilliant ‘Dark Silence’.

Art Fine – Dark Silence (Radondo Edit) [FREE DOWNLOAD]