Archive for the ‘Robot Rock’ Category
Robot Rock du Jour: Mr. Flagio – Take a Chance (1983)
In case you were wondering, Mr. Flagio is a hairy-chested robot from space.
This song has everything one could ever ask of an Italo track. It is a perfect mix of robo space disco, electro and synth pop with a killer bass line, rock solid vocoder and a fantastic breakdown. An essential part of any Italo collection.
SCHEMATIC: Instrumental version…
Robot Rock du Jour: G.A.N.G. – KKK (1983)
I can actually feel my skin getting hot under the southern Italian sun.
This song is a warm italo breeze on a cool February day. Slow burning and soulful. This particular clip features the ORIGINAL two track reel-to-reel master, so the sound quality is pristine.
SCHEMATIC: 12″ versions and another track by G.A.N.G… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Disk Drive + Printer Singing
These folks take nerd music to a totally new level.
SCHEMATIC: More tonal nonsense from highly unlikely heroes and heroines… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Daft Punk – Derezzed (2010) (TRON: Legacy)
TRON: Legacy + Daft Punk. Full coverage of the original film and remake soon.
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Robot Rock du Jour: Units – High Pressure Days (1979)
There is no substitute for the unadulterated, analog muskiness of an über rare, private pressing 7″ from a pioneering synthpunk band.
These recordings were digitized from near mint copy of this seminal work. Each track is mind-blowing and considerably more raw than the versions found on the 1980 LP, Digital Stimulation. Make sure to check out iNight, too
SCHEMATIC: Original recordings of Cowboy and Cannibals…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Alexander Robotnick – Problèmes D’Amour (1983)
Close your eyes.
Picture Rusty Griswold at a topless disco in National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985). Do you hear that song playing in the background? How awesome is it??!! Well, this was the track.
Alexander Robotnick, aka Maurizio Dami, rewrote Italo by attaching a ground wire to Electro and letting the current rip. He also set the bar for performance names. This fellow is a legend who still exercises his servos and gives one hell of a live performance.
SCHEMATIC: Rare dub and live versions, an interview and a very special song…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Tik & Tok – The Tube (1982)
This is probably the last robot dance outfit I’m going to post for a while.
UK’s Tik & Tok were pretty far out there, looking more like Fischerspooner predecessors than robots. Luckily for them, their darker, more minimal synth tracks were way, WAY better than their robotic dance routines. The only place I’ve ever seen The Tube is on a 2004 Rephlex pressing that has all of Tik & Tok’s better (i.e. more minimal) tracks and sells for under $10!
SCHEMATIC: A couple more videos and some album artwork…
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Robot Rock du Jour: Fotostat – Fotostat (1983)
Machines that think they’re human pretending to be robots. I-R-O-N-Y. Love it. The track is decent, but nothing mind-bending.
SCHEMATIC: Fotostat strut their circuits to Kraftwerk, more vids, technics ad, 7″ tracks, album artwork and label scans…
Robot Rock Du Jour: ‘Lectric Workers – Robot is Systematic (1982)
I assure you, my friend, that this robot is indeed systematic.
Nearly 30 human years ago, this track was putting hairy-chested robots into full-frame meltdown on space disco floors all over Planet Italy. ’Lectric Workers members Franco Rago and Gigi Farina were also responsible for Decadance’s considerably darker, yet ultimately synthulescent On and On (Fears Keep On).
SCHEMATIC: Instrumental version, album cover art and record label scans…
Robot Rock du Jour: Medio Mutante – Deportes y Sangre (Live) (2010)
My servo-driven heart blew past 180° when I saw/heard this.
So, I’ve been digging Medio Mutante’s dirty, analog, domestic jamón synth vibe for a while now. This live clip features their first performance of Deportes y Sangre at Wierd Records in NYC. Animal.
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