Archive for the ‘Electro Disco’ tag
Keyser Söze Alert: Magnifique – Magnifique (1979)
There is absolutely no fronting on this straight-up funky disco track from Canada (Ontario, I think)! The video, which features clips from the terrible 1979 flick Roller Boogie, is a stroke of genius. Now, the first three minutes of this song may not do much for you, but when the breakdown begins, the song deconstructs into some pretty trippy disco.
Real Genius: Giorgio Moroder – From Here to Eternity (1977)
Moroder is the undisputed progenitor of Italo. The uncanny resemblance to SNL’s Father Guido Sarducci notwithstanding, Moroder is a synth god. More machine than man, Moroder is to Italy as Kraftwerk is to Germany.
Although Moroder made some Taleggio over the years, From Here to Eternity is an early Italo masterpiece. First published as an LP in 1977 on US-based Casablanca Records, near mint copies of this album are still widely available for about $20. Synthspotters love this video…
SCHEMATIC: Some Moroder TV appearances, a Casablanca Records promo video, more details…
Robot Rock du Jour: Zodiac – Zodiac (1980)
Communist disco?! YES! This Latvian state-sponsored disco was actually composed in a music conservatory.
Zodiac is some seriously spaced-out synthy disco goodness. The simple composition of this eponymous track from their 1980 debut LP Disco Alliance brings the lush sythscapes and analog textures to the forefront. Loving those live drums. This exceptional track is essentially unknown in NA and generally available for about US$20 + international shipping. And peep that cover art!!
SCHEMATIC: Three more videos and some fantastic cover art… Read the rest of this entry »
Robot Rock du Jour: Cerrone – Supernature (1977)
This decidedly bizarre pre-Spike Jonze/Michel Gondry video features mutants, naked chicks à la Rio, a vintage Rolls-Royce and a kick-ass rainbow-coloured acrylic drum set.
Supernature is a cautionary post-apocalyptic tale of scientific hubris and genetic experimentation gone awry. Although there are numerous tracks from the 70s and 80s that pay homage to space, robots and computers (thank God), few disco/synth tracks really drop earth science. Me like! Me like!
SCHEMATIC: High quality extended vinyl rip MP3, lyrics, cover art…
Robot Rock du Jour: The Droids – (Do You Feel) The Force (1977)
Silver droids + wall of speakers + dancing space chick = hot video. Leave it to a Frenchman (Barclay manager Fabrice Cuitad) to put out a super-cool concept 7″, 12″ and LP based on the iconic film Star Wars. This video covers Part I. Part II has a funkier vibe.
SCHEMATIC: HQ vinyl rips of Part I and Part II, sources, cover art…
Robot Rock du Jour: Kébekélektrik – Journey Into Love/Magic Fly (1977)
Renditions of this killer track keep popping up. What is really strange, however, is that multiple bands released the same track in the same year.
Kébekélektrik (aka Gino Soccio) released Journey Into Love in 1977 on Les Disques Direction Records from Montreal. The track, re-released as Magic Fly later that year, is nearly identical to Space’s Magic Fly, but with a slightly different production feel.
SCHEMATIC: Record scans, photos and YET ANOTHER VERSION…
Party Time: Saturday Robot Party @ The Idle Hour (Baltimore, MD)
VIGR is in the house. 4+ hour rare vinyl set. Need I say more? Hope to see you there! I’ll try to keep track of the setlist…
Robot Rock du Jour: Space – Magic Fly (1977)
This video is totally out of control! Pictutre this: Robots rocking out on analog synths and live drums while a hot female humanoid dances seductively for your tripped out 1970s pleasure. French band Space clearly had it going on in 1977.
The audio player below comes pre-loaded with the 12″ b-side track, Fasten Seat Belt, which was ripped at 24/96 from my personal copy and converted to MP3 at 192kbps. Although Fasten Seat Belt is a funkier journey into the cosmos, it still totally rocks!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
SCHEMATIC: High quality vinyl rips from their second LP, Just Blue…
Robot Rock du Jour: ‘Lectric Funk – Shangaied (1979)
Man, have I ever been there?! There is a ubiquitous sample in this track at 1:53 followed by a pretty sick instrumental jam. I can see why Johnny Jewel (Italians Do It Better) moved here to Montreal: This is how chicks dress here. Thank you American Apparel.2
Shangaied (Unidisc 12″ Single Version)
Robot Rock du Jour: Ronnie Jones – Video Games (1980)
Anybody else spot a Daft Punk Technologic sample in this, particularly once the lyrics kick in around 0:40? The 2+ minute breakdown at 3:48 is some robotic funk video game pinball madness!