Radar - China Darling

Canada had some great electronic disco in the early 80s and a lot of it emits that type of coolness that seems to come with a closer proximity to tundra. This track has a lot of cool elements with an ever present arpeggio rhythm driving a calm groove, wurlitzer chord stabs, and a snide rock vocal. The 'Chinese Rhythm' that often accompanies any song about a woman from China is a bit cliche but otherwise this track is pretty smooth.

Wanexa - The Man from Colours

One of the best productions from the camp of Gianluigi Farina , Francesco Rago, and Monneret De Villard Xenia Olga Anastasia, the crew that produced 'Lectric Workers' 'Robot Is Systematic' and many others. The Psychadelic female vocals and simple synth refrain are driven by droning flanged drums and a dreamy sensibility. The break in this track is a perfect example of how Italo Disco influenced the early pioneers of Techno.

She's Gone Away (instrumental)

This song is brutal. Driven by repetitive bass synth arpeggios and chunky layers of guitar and bass. The female female vocals on the hook are infectious and their hints throughout the verse are seductive. Jimy's metallic vocoder voice is a delightful interjection of Italo goodness.

Kasso - Dig It

Kasso had a string of classic dance cuts in the late 70s and early 80s including "Brazilian Dancer" and "Dig It." According to liner notes Claudio Simonetti and Giancarlo Meo had a strong hand in the production and writing with these songs (along with Linda Wesley who lent her vocal talents to the productions). Both tracks are very soulful dance tracks with full bodied vocals and percussive, funk-forward production. Brazilian born Simonetti has had a long career in music starting with his role in Italian Rock group Goblin, Capricorn, various disco productions and movie soundtracks. Check out this interview with him from DJhistory.com and his current website here. Giancarlo Meo has also had a long illustrious career in music production with a string of great tracks under his belt from his work with Simonetti in 'Easy Going' to dance numbers in the 90s.

Sparber - Cosmic Mix

Here is another mix that came my way. This one comes from Sparber of New York City.

Sparber - Cosmic Mix
1. A Love Again (special remix) - Savage
2. Crash - Doctor's Cat
3. Sermon (Serotonin edit) - Mark Seven
4. Magic Carillon - Rose
5. Feeling Without Touching - Glass Candy
6. Just Be Good to Me - The Revenge (feat. Danielle Moore)
7. In The Summer (Picture House's 'Summer In The Balearics' Mix) - Crystal Fighters
8. Flower (Sparber mix) - Liz Phair
9. I Gotta Little Love - Angela
10. Guinea (Andy Blake's Edit) - Discodromo
11. Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb
12. What Is Love (Holographic Goatee Mix) - Deee-Lite

Muselmix Vol 1 - Speelycaptor

I get an occasional email from readers submitting their tracks and mixes. I have been meaning to feature a lot of them here but my lazy ass hasn't made it happen. Let me reconcile this today with a megamix from Speelycaptor of Denmark.

Speelycaptor - Muselmix1: Italo Disco Megamix

Intro: Sun Ra (movie quote from Space is the place)
1.) X-Ray Connection - Get ready (museledit)
(Boytronic- Luna square /synthhook)
2.) Mike Cannon - Going crazy
3.) Kano - Another Life
4.) Q - the Voice of Q vs
5.) Bamboo -Spaceship crashing
6.) FrédéricMercier - Spirit
7.) Imortals - Ultimate Warlord (museledit) vs
8.) Sex Band - I've got the answer
9.) B.W.H - "Stop" (museledit)
10.) Telex - "Diskow Moskow"
(Yello - i love u)
11.) Valerie Dore - "Get Closer"
12.) Tantra - "Hills of Katmandu" (Museledit) vs
13.) Cat Gang - "Locomotive breath"
14.) Ivan - "Fotonovela"
15.) Danny Keith - "Keep on music"
16.) Lama - Nineteen Ninety three
17.) Soif de la vie - "Goddess of love" (instrumental)
18.) Ken Laszlo - "Hey hey guy" (museledit)
19.) X-Ray Connection - "Replay" (museledit)
20.) Telex - "L'amour toujors" (museledit)
(Ofra Haza - "Im 'nin alu)
21.) Koto - "Chinese Revenge" vs
22.) Fake - "Donna Rouge" (Loops) vs Jamiroquai - "Cosmic Girl" (accapella)
23.) Creatures - "Believe in yourself"
24.) Hot Cold - "I can hear your voice"
25.) Laserdance - Humanoid Invasion
26.) Doctor's Cat - "Feel the drive"
Estelle & Kanye West - "American Boy" (accapella)
27.) Cyber People - "Void Vision"
28.) Digital Emotion - "Get up"
Jackson Five: "I want you back" (accapella)
29.) Fun Fun - "Living in Japan" vs
Lipps Inc - "Funkytown"
30.) Azul y Negro - "The Night"
31.) Trans X - "Living on video"

Spaced Out

Driven by a gravelly bass line and soft girl vocals you can hear a throw back to Parliament's pitched up Sir Nose between verses. This song is airy and full of funk. Its hard not to start nodding your head or shrugging your shoulders when this one is bumping. Pure Energy put this out in 1983 for Prism Records. Check out their funky catalog.