The Zodiacs – Move & Dance To The New Beat [THANKYOU045]

This one-off Belgian New Beat project from The Zodiacs at first glance seems like standard fare from this time and place in dance music history – even with call to action, commanding listeners to ‘Move & Dance To The New Beat!’ that could well have earned a place at one of the slogans of the entire movement in an alternative universe where this record was a hit.  However, a hit it was not – what we have here is an obscure piece of music shrouded in mystery, previously released only on 7 inch, and its enigmatic nature only adds to eerie quality of the children’s voices throughout the record. This, alongside its higher tempo not usually associated with New Beat as a musical form, come together to bring forth a bizarre oddity of the genre that also has the potency of a modern, peak time weapon. Anatolian Weapons on remix duties takes the material and reduces the speed but increases the malevolence and is a testament to his skills as one of the great producers working today

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The Zodiacs – Move & Dance To The New Beat [THANKYOU045]

Spanish Crash – Life Is Now [THANKYOU040]

Playful Italo-Disco project by Florentine Marzio Benelli, originally released in 1984. “Life Is Now” delivers a number of what seem to be almost very important life-teachings over a rather sloppy beat. The hi hats, although very present also make it clear “Spanish Crash” is in no rush to get anywhere any time soon, sounding almost off beat. What strikes the listener even more than the smudges of highly valuable advice in some form of English language is the creative usage of what might have been some of the latest studio recording toys to reach Italy in 1984, an array of rather unorthodox synthy effects, vocoders, trippy delays all topped off with imposing guitar riffs for good measure. Very much sounding like what could be the soundtrack to a bootleg Disney comic strip on acid. Castro’s “Paella Crash” shifts the original lazy gear into a dubbier, high BPM, striped down version of the original that is more club oriented.

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Spanish Crash – Life Is Now [THANKYOU040]

Time Capsule – Sexual Desire / Heat In Africa [THANKYOU031]

An interesting insight into some of the diverse dancefloor oriented sounds going on in Canada during the 80s sitting somewhere between electro, italo disco and proto house. A-side starts off on a slow paced 80 bpm pop/rock italo-disco crossover track featuring lyrics in english with an unidentifiable accent, very much reminiscent of Italian local neighbourhood private press ventures featuring someone’s sister on the vocal. 3 versions later, on the B side, things step up a notch coming in at 130 bpm with “Heat In Africa’s” drum machine propelled rhythmic mayhem pulling out all the latest studio bells and whistles of the time. Big electric guitar solo build up on the “Dance Mix” and additional Bonus Beats mix by Castro.

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Time Capsule – Sexual Desire / Heat In Africa [THANKYOU031]

Ethereal Beat – Underboard [THANKYOU029]

A hard one to put in a box when it comes to genre, floating somewhere between italo and synth pop, originally released in Switzerland in 1985. “Underboard” is very cool paced downtempo number that builds up with layers of subtle percussion lusciously adorned by some heavy saxy reedsmanship and mysterious vocal accents with no real message – 100% chill o’clock served on ice. “Cedar Of Lebanon” picks up the tempo a notch, once again setting the scene for the reeds to shine as the catchy melody is presented, beautiful 80’s instrumentalism from a golden age, clearly not made in Ableton. B side features a respectful DJ tool style remix by Anatolian Weapons.

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Ethereal Beat – Underboard [THANKYOU029]

Maxine – Alien [THANKYOU017]

Going back to the vaults of the iconic X Energy Records label from Italy, Thank You presents yet another Balearic house masterpiece for your listening pleasure. Deep and sensual androgynous vocals, dreamy synth melodies, generously pulsating bass lines that blend with the playfulness of the rhythm – all boxes are checked. Surely a soundtrack that would have graced a daytime outdoor dance floor at Amnesia in the early 90s.

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Maxine – Alien [THANKYOU017]

Le Palace De Beaute – The Pleasure Seekers [THANKYOU009]

LE PALACE DE BEAUTE - The Pleasure Seekers

Larry Tee’s early work originally released in 1988 featuring mutated HiNRG Proto House sounds. Serious business faster borderline HiNRG on the A side with Pleasure Seekers, and then starting off the B side with slower fun samples sprinkled over solid 4 on the floor drum machine. Closing credits with a slower drama drenched urban soap opera ballad. One to keep in the bag all summer.?Original artwork by New York’s Tabboo!

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Le Palace De Beaute – The Pleasure Seekers [THANKYOU009]

Ars Mundi – El Genio De Los Pies Rojos [THANKYOU010]

ARS MUNDI - El Genio De Los Pies Rojos (reissue)

Completely unorthodox production techniques employed by one of Spain’s maestros from the 80’s, Thank You brings back one of Julian Ruiz’s craziest productions that come with a potential threat to any well tuned HiFi system (careful at 1:26 on A side). A remarkable dubby/italo rhythm section sets the foundation for a dreamy melody that won’t be forgotten so easily. Inspired in Indian mythology, “El Genio De Los Pies Rojos” is a masterpiece that will take any tasteful dancefloor to serious heights. Includes 2 other shorter titles from the album originally released in 1986.

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Ars Mundi – El Genio De Los Pies Rojos [THANKYOU010]

Galaxy II Orchestra – Acid Rain [THANKYOU006]

GALAXY II ORCHESTRA - Acid Rain (reissue)

Forgotten side project production from 1986, by Grammy award winning sound engineer Chris Lord Alge. Two versions of an oddball leftfield electro downtempo chugger and one previously unreleased patriotic monologue acompanied by heroic emotional piano – to be served with a sense of sarcasm.

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Galaxy II Orchestra – Acid Rain [THANKYOU006]