inner nerd » Italo

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. The gentle sound of waves crashing and the sand, warm beneath me.

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: ‘Lectric Workers – Robot is Systematic (1982)

beaker — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:35:26 +0000

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…

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Robot Rock du Jour: Marcello Giombini – I Adore Commodore (198?)

beaker — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:20:17 +0000

Italian film composer and experimental synth maestro Giombini put up this track sometime in the early 1980s as a promo for the Commodore 64. I wonder if this video somehow inspired the seminal film, Weird Science?

SCHEMATIC: Cuts from Giombini’s landmark 1981 LP Astromusic Synthesizer…

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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: Justine and the Victorian Punks – Still You (1979)

beaker — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:47:45 +0000

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…

Battisti Lucio – Ancora Tu (1976)

Regardless of what on Earth this dude is running from, this video is unmistakably Italian.

Deadly Feminine Installation at Fiorucci (1978?)

Living Environment (1981)

Art on Stage at Danceteria (1983)

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Real Genius: Giorgio Moroder – From Here to Eternity (1977)

beaker — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:18:40 +0000

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…

Moroder’s discography is longer than the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among other massive hits, Moroder was behind Donna Summer’s 1977 smash, I Feel Love.

He also did the theme song for the crazy-ass movie Midnight Express in 1978. Below is a classic German TV show (check out those mics!) introducing Moroder and his oscar-winning track, The Chase, which is 13 minutes of mind-warping synthesizer amazingness. In this all-too-brief clip, Moroder goes from laying it down in German to working a Minimoog in an ultra-rare LIVE performance.

Here is the original 8-minute 45RPM version of the track. I can’t seem to find the 12″ version, so will upload mine.

Here is the Casablanca Records promo where Moroder demonstrates his vocoder skills.

Moroder produced everyone and everything in the 1980s. Beyond rescoring the 1920s Fritz Lang film Metropolis, he was responsible for Top Gun (along with German protégé Harold Faltermeyer), Blondie’s Call Me, Irene Cara’s What a Feelin’ LP which included Romance ’83 (and Flashdance), The Neverending Story and so forth.

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Keyser Söze Alert: Clay Pedrini – New Dream (1984)

beaker — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:21:29 +0000

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…

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Party Time: Saturday Robot Party @ The Idle Hour (Baltimore, MD)

beaker — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:52:53 +0000

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…

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