KOTO レコード& CD

Review: First released back in 1990, a year after Dutch producer Michael van der Kuy took ownership of the Koto project from its' Italian founders (a duo responsible for such Italo-disco classics as 'Japanese War Game' and 'Visitors'), 'Acknowledge' returns to stores in remastered and refreshed form. Side A sports two versions first showcased on the 90 12-inch: the throbbing, deep space Italo-disco-meets-hi-NRG cheeriness of the original extended mix (A1), and the slightly moodier, dancefloor dub style 'Knowledge Mix'. Turn to the flip and you'll find two new interpretations. First, 21st century Italo hero Flemming Dallum does a terrific job in making the record sound like it was made in 1984 -unsurprisingly, the analogue-sounding synths are particularly attractive - before DJ Con-T and Opposite Direction give it a house leaning Italodance tweak.

Review: Following the success of the 2022 dancefloor hit Tron, Koto returns with two exciting new tracks on I Venti d'Azzurro Records. The A-side is 'Sputnik' and it stays true to Koto's iconic 1980s synth-driven, space-adventure sound, while the B-side introduces Overdrive, a fresh electro track primed for the dancefloor. The release comes with some exclusive DJ versions alongside the original cuts to provide even more ammo for jobbing selectors. The Ep is also complemented by signature Koto-style artwork that helps capture the authentic essence of Italo's golden era while delivering a modern twist.

Review: Italian synthpop group Koto dropped their most seminal tune 'Jabdah' in 1986 and it has been a real dance floor classic ever since. Often coming out over the years with plenty of remixes (there have officially been 12 in all over) and versions as part of best of comps and whatever else, here it comes on a dedicated 12" picture disc with one extended version and one for DJs. It was the band's first single that charted and is still the sort of catchy and emotive tune that gets the dancefloor going and locked into its lush synth sounds and beguiling lyrics about space newspapers and waltzes.

Review: Somewhat confusingly, much of the music we assume was recorded by Italian Italo-disco group Koto was actually made by Dutch producer Michiel van der Kuy - albeit in a similar style. From The Dawn Of Time, which first surfaced in 1992 three years after he controversially acquired the name, is one such release. This reissue - the first on vinyl, as far as we can ascertain - shows what van der Kuy brought to the project, namely a rush-inducing sense of euphoria, synth riffs reminiscent of Euro-dance club cuts from the period, and rock-solid musicianship. Combine these with throbbing, Italo-disco and Hi-NRG style basslines, bustling machine drums and plenty of sonic star-gazing, and you have a post-Italo album that sticks closely to the blueprint laid out by the Dutchman's Italian predecessors.