If the front cover of the latest release from Erol Alkan’s Phantasy Sound imprint looks like something from the early 80s, that’s because it is. In fact, Xclusiv’s second single, 1982’s ‘Fools Are Friendly’, has long been something of a cult classic amongst collectors of quirky, off-kilter and obscure electronic disco/synth-pop fusion. Produced by a British studio engineer called Paul Jeremy as a showcase for sibling duo Karen and Maxine Berlinski, it’s the kind of slap-bass-sporting, independent disco-not-disco delight that sits somewhere between early Italo-disco, US boogie, and glassy-eyed underground synth-pop. It’s genuinely excellent and here is presented in both full vocal ‘extended mix’ and’instrumental’ mix forms.

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