Royal Athlete is a new venture from Berlin’s Hot Pony party, a well-loved excuse to play camp Italo, boogie and ’80s electro from former Bristol residents Vexkiddy and Antoni Maiovvi. Both offer up tracks on this debut 12″, with Vexkiddy’s bouncy synth funk throw-down “Robotic Understanding” – all squidgy melodies and darting rhythms – just edging out Maovvi’s italo-revivalism in the highlight stakes. Elsewhere, UK Italo royalty Bill Ambrose and Marika Gauchi join forces as The Dreamers’ for the deliciously camp “He’s My Man”, before Berlin newcomer Dimitri SoEmotional delivers “Unconditionally”, a chunk of deep modern boogie.

listen