Archive for the ‘Italo’ tag
Robot Rock du Jour: Justine and the Victorian Punks – Still You (1979)
This track treads a fine line between funky disco and satin-smooth pillow talk. This particular cut is actually experimental composer/saxophonist Peter Gordon’s lovely re-arrangement of Battisti Lucio’s early Italo track, Ancora Tu, with some lover’s chat provided by pioneering NY-based designer/artist Colette.
SCHEMATIC: Battisti Lucio’s Ancora Tu video and photos of Colette’s work…
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…
Keyser Söze Alert: Clay Pedrini – New Dream (1984)
This may be the single greatest manifestation of Italo every pressed. Who the hell is this guy?! Claudio (Clay) Pedrini Came out of nowhere, cooked up this tasty Italo biscuit and then went back into the night kitchen forever. Even when you can find it, be prepared to dish out upwards of $500 for an excellent copy. Fortunately for vinyl nerds hit by the recession, this has been officially repressed by I.D. Limited, complete with reinterpreted cover artwork. You’ll have to pay shipping from Europe, tho.
SCHEMATIC: A short music video clip and cover artwork…
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…
Keyser Söze Alert: Trophy – Slow Flight (1982)
This unstoppable Italo electro-disco jam from 1982 spawned the fabled Fuzz Dance label. Italo master Maurizio Dami (aka Alexander Robotnick) was heavily involved with this label as both a producer and remixer. Does anyone out there know if he produced this track, too?
Here’s the spacey instrumental version ripped from my vinyl copy.
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SCHEMATIC: Record scans and Alexander Robotnick dropping some disco knowledge… Read the rest of this entry »
Snort: Filipponio – All’ Arrembaggio (1984)
Unbridled Italo machismo in its purest form. As undeniably ridiculous as this video may seem to you at first, laughter will turn to awe with repeated viewings. How sweet are the video effects?!!
SCHEMATIC: Dope record scans…
Robot Rock du Jour: La Bionda – I Wanna Be Your Lover (1980)
Back in 1980, these Italian brothers gave Daft Punk a blueprint for combining vocoder-laden electronic music, cosmic story lines and robot animé. Be kind, please rewind.
SCHEMATIC: Candid photos, original cover art and record scans…
Robot Rock du Jour: Doris Norton – Personal Computer (1984)
OK. Check this out:
Super hot italian chick doubles as an electronic music pioneer, gets sponsored by Apple and Roland in the 1980s and eventually becomes a consultant to IBM. **sigh**
All video clips taken from the 1984 LP Personal Computer on Durium.
SCHEMATIC: Two more videos and high res studio photo…
Keyser Söze Alert: Gay Cat Park – I’m a Vocoder (1982)
Wait…Who? Don’t let the peculiar name distract you from the raw genius of this track. This masterpiece marked the genesis of Italo thoroughbred label Il Discotto Productions in 1982. By the way, you can learn a ton about vintage vocoders by watching our vocoder youtube playlist or checking out our friends over at Matrixsynth.
SCHEMATIC: More vocoder intel…
Robot Rock du Jour: Bagarre – Lemonsweet (Disco Version) (1982)
Man am I feeling this tune! The slow descent into acid-fuelled dancing madness is too much to bear on this spring day. You can’t beat those slightly off key vixen vocals.
Bagarre’s Circus LP or Lemonsweet 12″ are classic slabs of electronic italo that sell for around $100 each on Italian vinyl, but you can score Spanish pressings with slightly lower sonic quality for roughly half that. Happy hunting!