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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Blackway and Helene



Another dreamy classic from the team of Stefano Zito and Carlo Favilli from 1982. The verses have an atonality that lends a lot of charm to this piece, from the offset it may seem to be a distraction but the harmonies in the chorus pull it all together.


Blackway and Helene - Music for Us
Between the verses and chorus the pulse of this production invites you into a sensuous groove. For a little more information on the Roman DJ scene and Zito's foray into music production check out this interview with Stefano Zito(I can't validate its authenticity but it has some classic pics).

Blackway and Helene - Music for Us (download)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Diana Barton and Merak Music


Diana Barton - Tango

This one is funky. 1986 and in the mix with a real funky synth bass sound and booming electronic drums complimented by the addictive rhythms of electronic toms. This production is a sweet balance of R&B and the Italo sound. Its like Keith Sweat met Valerie Dore in a smoky European night club and cut a record after tripping the light fantastic. Produced by Marco Tansini for Merak Music, the label that released Valerie Dore's "The Night" and a few other tracks that I am planning on showcasing here very soon.

Diana Barton - Tango (download)

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Italobot Podcast 06 - Writes a Postcard



Italobot Podcast 06 - Writes a Postcard

01. Lame - You've Got the Night
02. Bandeaux - Black and White
03. Monte Kristo - Lady Valentine
04. Mya and the Mirror - Hesitation
05. Digital Emotion - Go Go Yellow Screen
06. Mr. Master - Dog in the Night
07. B.W.H. - Livin' Up
08. Clio - Faces
09. Ken Scott - The Voice I Feel Inside
10. Ryan Simmons - Lucky Guy
11. David Davil - Men of My Generation
12. Starflight - Dance to the Beat
13. Thai Break - Flowers in the Rain
14. Finzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha

Sorry for the delay in getting this one out. But I hope it is worth the wait. Some fun tracks on here some of them have been featured recently but I had to get them down for those of my friends too lazy to check in regularly. Maybe it will help cure those Monday blues.


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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Rose and Robyx


Rose - Magic Carillon

A haunting and beautiful piece by Rose this one has been swimming around in my mind since I first heard it. Once again Robyx (aka Roberto Zanetti) defends his irrefutable position in the pantheon of Italo producers. This one graced vinyl in 1984 on Discomagic Records. Check out their catalog for a collection of classics and unknown hits. Check out David Vunk and Alden Tyrell's mix "Love Comes Only Once in a Lifetime" to see this track placed properly in a wonderful mix.

Rose - Magic Carillon (download)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Ruth - Roman Photo


Ruth - Roman Photo

French New Wave from 1985 with some really crisp drums. A great blend of live and synthesized instruments here with the clever incorporation of old camera sounds in the intro that make this one a captivating, moody peace. The brain child of Philippe Doray, Ruth Ellyeri, and Thierry Müller, they also teamed together for some experimental electronic music in the late 70s and early 80s under the name Ilitch.

Ruth - Roman Photo (download)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Carlo Favilli, Stefano Zito, and House of Music


Mr. Master - A Dog In The Night

In 1983 Carlo Favilli and Stefano Zito delivered some timeless tracks for their label House of Music. Mr. Master's 'A Dog In The Night' and B.W.H.'s 'Livin' Up' and 'Stop' define a dance floor that I long to be on. And to make things that much sweeter Casco's 'Cybernetic Love' was launched the same year on House of Music. All of these productions are so dense and smoky it reaffirms 1983 as a pivotal year for Italo. Not much to say about these tracks so I will let them speak for themselves.


B.M.H. - Stop


B.W.H. - Livin' Up

Mr. Master - A Dog in the Night (download)

Mr. Master - A Dog in the Night (Instrumental)(download)

B.W.H. - Livin' Up (download)

B.W.H. - Stop (download)

Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon


Tullio De Piscopo's 'Stop Bajon' is a departure from the synthesizer-dominated tracks I have been featuring but it has a sensuous groove that I couldn't resist sharing here. A drummer who cut his teeth in jazz and fusion combos, he released some forward thinking material in the late 70s, and played drums on Kano's 'It's a War' and 'Super Extra Sexy Sign.'



Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon 'Stop Bajon's' soulful pulse has a swing and laid back nature not found in a lot of songs that are considered 'Italo Disco' but his style has been grouped under that umbrella due to the fact that he is Italian and he unquestionably had a strong funk and disco influences. Regardless, this song is easy on the ears.

Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon (download)