inner nerd » 1983

Robot Rock du Jour: Mr. Flagio – Take a Chance (1983)

beaker — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:22:37 +0000

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…

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Robot Rock du Jour: G.A.N.G. – KKK (1983)

beaker — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:10:13 +0000

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…12″ Club Mix

Dub Mix + Bonus Beats

Incantations (1983)

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Robot Rock du Jour: Alexander Robotnick – Problèmes D’Amour (1983)

beaker — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 06:56:22 +0000

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…

Problèmes D’Amour (Dub Version)

Problèmes D’Amour (Live Version)

Obsession for the Disco Freaks

Interview

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Robot Rock du Jour: Tik & Tok – The Tube (1982)

beaker — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:51:54 +0000

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…

Crisis (1982)

Soulless Synthetic Heart-Steps Of Unconcerned Androids (1983)

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Robot Rock du Jour: Fotostat – Fotostat (1983)

beaker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:56:44 +0000

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…

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Snort: Robot Dance Competition (1983)

beaker — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:42:11 +0000

Metal Mickey calling the shots in this UK dance competition from 1983. Peep those costumes! The red heads get my vote…

end of line…

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Keyser Söze Alert: Decadance – On and On (Fears Keep On) (1983)

beaker — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:15:42 +0000

Dark, italo alchemy at its finest!

Although somewhat of a false alarm since Decadance members Franco Rago and Gigi Farina were also responsible for ‘Lectric Workers’ tasty italo-biscuit Robot is Systematic, this is the one and only Decadance experiment. The twisted lyrics are a perfect match for the track’s underground, synthy goodness.

SCHEMATIC: Album cover and record label scans…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Deux – Decadence LP (2010)

beaker — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:52:58 +0000

Vive La Synth Baguette!!!

The life of an anachronist is no picnic: One’s soul (do robots have souls?) is spread across time like brie on pain chaud. Fortunately for those of us stuck surfing time-space, there is music this good to keep us afloat. Minimal Wave nails it again with another anthology repress, this time by French duo, Deux. Might as well double-up on the vinyl while you’re there buying Futurisk Player Piano LP to save on shipping. If you’re feeling flush, I would pick up the Medio Mutante EP, Inestable single, too.

SCHEMATIC: Not convinced?! Check out the full Deux posting HERE!!!

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Robot Rock du Jour: Freeez – I.O.U. (1983)

beaker — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:24:24 +0000

This video somehow manages to aggregate nearly everything that was so boss about the early 1980s: 7″ records; boomboxes/ghettoblasters; BMX bikes; popping and locking; synthesizers; fashion; and even a healthy dose of naïve sexuality. If this song sounds like a cross between Afrika Bambaataa and New Order, that is because legend Arthur Baker produced it! Thanks to fellow nerdbot Tom in the UK for the heads up on this one.

SCHEMATIC: Acapella & Dub Versions…

These versions are included primarily for posterity rather than actual musical interest.

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Robot Rock du Jour: Zwischenfall – Flucht (1983)

beaker — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:18:09 +0000

Chew on this dark wave nugget for a while.

SCHEMATIC: Limited edition repress, original female vocal version and more videos…

Flucht was one of my very first blog posts. There is something about this song that works its way into your bones. Josh Cheon of Dark Entries Records in SF just did a limited, hyper-quality repress of the Heute EP including the superior German version of Flucht. For $13, you’d be nuts not to grab one while they’re still in supply. Josh also wrote up his great interview with Stephen Kraemer of Zwischenfall.

Flucht (Female Vocal Version) (1984)

The female vocal version of Flucht was actually the b-side of the Sandy Eyes single released on Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule and Italo champ Fuzz Dance.

Sandy Eyes (1984)

This song has a much warmer, almost pre-balearic feel to it and was NOT on the Heute EP.

Atemlos (1983)

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