Back catalogue: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: Legalize Lambada Vol 6 brings a vibrant Italo homage that showcasing the talents of Albion, Ric Piccolo, and Hysteric. Side-1 kicks off with Albion's 'Nucleare,' an early 80s DIY sound track seasoned with robotic Italian vocals, serving as a unique introduction. Next, Ric Piccolo's 'Disco Teacher' delivers a potent mix of early disco and 80s electro sounds, setting the stage for some serious dancefloor action. On Side-2, Ric Piccolo returns with 'Alright,' continuing the danceable energy with another infectious groove. Finally, Hysteric's 'Moment' offers a moody, keyboard-rich Italo house track, exuding a sexy, soulful vibe that prompts deep, introspective dance moves. This compilation is for fans of Italo disco and disco and those seeking something fresh in these genres. Legalize Lambada Vol 6 is steeped with that Italo sound with modern twists, making it perfect for both nostalgic disco enthusiasts and new listeners alike. Whether you're looking to fill a dancefloor or enjoy some soulful Italo vibes, this release delivers.

Review: Italian talent Giuseppe steps up to Loft Records with a trip back to the 80s. He fuses everything from Italo house to post-punk, techno and synth pop into these warming grooves and does so with a fine array of hardware tools including the Yamaha DX7, Korg monologue and Behringer Crave, all of which lend their distinctive palettes. 'Flying Minds' is a musical techno opener with singing leads and crunchy beats, and that bright sense of melody also defines 'This Is My Show' and the playful, angular grooves of 'No More Dark Music'. 'Takinti' shuts down with the rawness of a proto-house cut and sugary synths of a classic Italo gem.

Review: There is a great combination of the classic and the contemporary on this new Disco Disco 12". 'Paradise' is both deep yet moving, a warm tune with cuddly drums but retro chords that bring the energy. 'Latino' has shimmering hand claps and sensuous vocals with hulking great kicks that are full of promise. 'It Was Just A Dream' pairs vocoder vocals with glistening synth details and another enthralling and heavyweight house groove and 'RUFF Menace' then taps into 80s synth sounds with its stomping beats and deadpan vocals brought to life with celebratory synth chords.

Review: Red Laser Records continue their stellar form with another knockout release, blending Manctalo fire from old hands and fresh faces alike. Frank Butters opens the EP with The Call Of The Wild, a dazzling blast of crystalline synths, thunderous bass, and cosmic effects that showcase his forward-thinking production skills. Bob Swans delivers 'Bodyform4U', a dreamy arpeggiated groove that builds an uplifting, futuristic atmosphere, perfect for igniting the dancefloor. Lone Saxon switches things up with 'Hypersleep' a breakbeat-infused piano gem that oozes nostalgic charm, before Franz Scala and Il Bosco finish strong with Webo, a late-night, tension-filled Manctalo banger.

Review: Don Carlos should by now be known to most house music crate-ologists as Carlo Troja from Verase, Italy -not Euvin Spencer from Kingston town. Alas, confusion still runs rampant over the ambiguity surrounding the Don Carlos name; if only they'd heard just how great this new EP from the former North Italian nuff-sayer truly was, they'd never forget the difference, of course! 'Italian Paradise' is a fresh, still dripping-wet house EP out via Groove Culture; its lightweight organ triplets, electric piano smears, and lens-fogged sunglass strings are what makes it *it*: a more than suitable release for hammock skygazing and/or wooly garment shedding.

Review: Chris Barratt aka Eagles & Butterflies possesses the rare ability to unite a larger-than-life peak time personality with the understated production method of comparatively underground records, techno pop and Italo. Bridging such gaps of authenticity and palatability can be a mean feat, but Barratt sacrifices few opportunities on his new 'Heartbreaks & XTC' EP to really think about how both poles can be met. Focussing on skeletal, hands-off mixing and yet apotheotic buildup production, Eagles & Butterflies truly do fly in unison on this stonker.

Review: Sound Metaphors keeps it as deep as ever with a reissue of this classic from Franco Falsini. It's a quality EP that opens with the mysterious and exotic synth colour of 'People In Orbit' with its dusty retro breaks and psychedelic feel. 'Un-Flanged Transition' is another edgy sound that has no real analogue - it's an intense astral adventure with ever-changing synth leas and a real sense of unease. 'Midnight Tremors' takes things down a notch and is a carefree cosmic house jaunt with mellow synth magic and 'Ray-Tracing Sauna' is another sun-baked closer with wonderful arps drifting up into the heavens.

Review: Hey Cabrera! brings the heat with Italo Void, a vibrant fusion of electro disco, Italo, and house that embodies the essence of summer. Clean drum patterns lay the foundation, complemented by captivating melodies that shimmer throughout the track. Lauer's remix adds an analogue touch with piano keys, infusing a sense of late-night romance. On the flip side, 'Forelskelse' transports listeners to Scandinavia, blending disco and house elements to create an uplifting atmosphere filled with emotive energy. David Bay's remix of 'Forelskelse' offers a measured yet addictive rendition, allowing the instruments to shine while retaining the essence of the original. Together, these tracks comprise a mesmerising soundtrack for the approaching summer season, promising nights filled with dancefloor joy and unexplored passions.

Review: Bellissimi Dischi di Ornavasso open the doors of the Archivio once again! Meticulously chosen from their vast, nigh boundless collection, each selection in this series maintains the warm and danceable sound that has continually distinguished SOMAR Records from the rest. 100% Italian, and certified by officer T. Campanat, their latest brings four new ones to the fore, which are increasingly whammy and experimental; 'Cosa C'e' is ear-infatuating enough, with its from-scratch handclaps and high strings, but from the jump of 'Mondo Killer' we realise we're in for a more experimental, electro-tinged and sample-heavy ride, ones like which we rarely hear.

Review: SEGUIM Records is back with its second release, 'SEGUIM Edits Vol. II', navigating the many nostalgisms of the 80s through to the vivid reimaginings of the 90s. This time the imprint also doubles up as artist, bringing four mix versions of an untitled cut to the fold. The 'Visible' and 'Invisible' mixes first provide parallactic shifts on the same tune, with basslines and guitar licks shifting between the foreground and background, giving way to each other's various constitutive elements, like the forced perspective of a playing card. Meanwhile, the 'Al Ajillo' and 'Cardiac' mixes move into much ravier territory.

Review: Tamati's Notte in Riviera EP on the ever-stronger young label Saint Wax is a perfect bit of Balearic house escapism. The title track, which translates as 'night on the Riviera', is just that - a humid late-night house cut with some erect female vocals. 'Tutto Un Deja Vu' cuts loose with freewheeling melodies and blissed-out pads, and 'Magica' then goes deep. Italian producer Franz Scala blends 80s vibes with modern sensibilities like few others as he shows on his remix of the title cut, then Sparkling Attitude and Gledd add their own fresh versions.

Review: Napoli-based Gigi Testa is next up on the mighty Rush Hour with a third outing on the Store Jams label featuring "some spicy Sichuan flavours straight from the Dragon Temple." 'Sichuan' is the opener and it pairs some bubbly synth lines full of colour with happy piano chords that dance about over nice analogue house drums. 'Dragon Temple' on the flip has a worldly feel with Eastern melodies, nice 80s drum sounds and a squelchy bassline that brings a nice exotic feel to any set.

Review: Verrazzano is back with a second issue in its summer EP series, this time from Type-303. His Lost In Paradise is a four-track EP catering to sophisticated tastes with opener 'Acid Disco Time' blending a familiar disco groove with an acid twist and featuring Seinfeld-esque bass slaps and rising energy to create a spacey, glittering dance experience. 'Lost In Paradise' transports listeners to turquoise waters with enticing mermaid melodies, echoing ancient Minoan bliss. 'Spirit Dance' follows with ethereal flutes and otherworldly harmonies, creating a deep, introspective journey. Finally, 'Wild Horses' celebrates untamed energies, reminding us to cherish the wild essence of music and life.

Review: While Toy Tonics' first Italomania compilation, released back in 2010, featured fresh reworks of classic Italian disco tracks, this belated sequel celebrates a new generation if Italian disco and nu-disco artists. This - as they have made clear - is not synth-heavy Italo-disco revivalism, but disco revivalism and disco-house fusion made by Italians. It's a great collection all told, with highlights including the hybrid disco-boogie brilliance of Tommiboy's 'La Sfinge (featuring D Disco Band)', the synth disco-meets-jazz-funk flex of Severino and Giocomo Mora's 'Maledetto', the coloruful nu-disco excellence of Munk & Kapote's 'La Musica (Hot DJ version)', the orchestrated disco cheeriness of 'SessoSpaghetti (extended mix)' by Finniani & Angeleri - an authentically eccentric excursion - and the synth-heavy squelch of 'Tropica' by Giovanni Damico.

Review: Giuseppe Leonardi returns with his highly anticipated mini-album 7 on the fresh label Unsure following his acclaimed releases for Second Circle. This eclectic collection features seven tracks showcasing Leonardi's diverse musical range. Kicking off with the unexpected 'Suzi Wong' which blends reggae and dub influences with mutant disco vibes and captivating vocals, it then takes in tracks like 'Anti Narcotics Police,' 'Both,' and 'Rrrrrrr' with uplifting house beats with a quirky pop twist. 'Wonder Girls' and 'Wondering' evoke rhythmic echoes of Stefan Schwander's new work, while 'Deadline' brings funkiness and magical melodies. 7 is a unique sonic journey that brightens any day with its playful coolness and raw charm.