Male Tears - SoD

Male Tears, based in LA, has debuted the video for their song "Sex on Drugs" (aka SoD). The track offers a unique fusion of Italo disco rhythms with Goth-style vocals and visual aesthetics. Additionally, it incorporates elements of hiNrg and EBM. This release coincides with the announcement of the band's upcoming tour dates.

Instant Hit: Big Ben Tribe - Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights

Four decades ago, the Italian trio Big Ben Tribe, hailing from Trieste, unveiled their third and ultimate single "Tarzan Loves the Summer Nights," featuring the vocals of Clara Moroni. Interestingly, a year later, Baltimora would gain international success for incorporating a Tarzan reference into his work.

Instant Hit: Katy Gray - Hold Me Tight

"Hold Me Tight" was released by Katy Gray  in 1985 and there is quite a veil of mystery to the singer's identity and rumours that claim that she was tragically killed by a disco ball in 1987. The lady on the cover artwork is believed to be Monica Stucci. Katy Gray never released another single and this certainly remains as an italo-disco tune of the highest calibre.

 

Instant Hit: Private Blue- She's Love

Private Blue was a short-lived German act that released only one single during their brief existence, titled "She's Love." This 12" single featured two versions of the titular song along with "Help Me Tonight." Genre-wise, it falls into the category of Synth Pop with a strong influence of Italo Disco, a style that was popular in Germany at the time. The single was released on the 80's label Westside Music, which also featured music by artists like Moskwa TV and Celebrate the Nun. While it may be considered an obscurity today, there's hope that it will find its place on music compilations that appreciate similar genres.

 

Dark Entries Records Reissue Cult Italo Disco Classics

Celebrating the 30th anniversary. Dark Entries Record presents International Music System's "Dancing Therapy" and Charlie's "Spacer Woman" remastered. Both tracks were produced by Maurizio Cavalieri and released on his own record label Mr Disc Records in 1983/4. "Spacer Woman" has become a cult revival track since its appearance on the legendary I-f mix CD ”Mixed Up In The Hague” in 2001 and has been reissued several time to this date, while for Dancing Therapy this is the first reissue since its original release in 1984. Both release have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and are available now. For More info follow the link.

www.darkentriesrecords.com/store/product-category/dark-entries

Instant Hit: Blackway- New Life

Blackway was a three-song Italo Disco project involving roughly the same personnel as B.W.H. and Mr. Master. "New Life" was their second single released on Moon Records Association in 1982. This and two other singles were reissued on 'Blackway' EP which also featured the remix versions of the songs. This release was issued by 'Music Control Italo' in 2009.   

 

Out This Week: Parallels- XII

Toronto-based electro pop outfit Parallels have released a follow up to their debut album "Visionaries" which was issued in 2010. The new album announces lighter italo pop sound with synth starlight which is a result of the split between Cameron Findlay and Holly Dodson who were working together on their debut album. The album release was preceded by 'Time Will Crawl' EP which was released in May. The new album is available on vinyl and CD and it is out on Marigold Records.  

www.parallels.fm
 

Instant Hit: O'Gar- Playback Fantasy

"Playback Fantasy" was a first single release for the Italian singer and producer Marco Ongaro who recorded a couple of songs and one album during the 80's under a name O'Gar. "Playback Fantasy" was a hit in Europe and it was released in several European countries. The single was released in 1983 and it was issued as both 7" and 12" inch record with the instrumental version of the song as a b-side. It was also featured on O'Gar's only album Gimmick from the year 1985.

Instant Hit: 'Lectric Workers- Robot is Systematic

'Lectric Workers were an Italian dance act consisting of Franco Rago, Gigi Farina, X. Monneret. They made their debut with "Robot is Systematic" in 1982. It was their only hit which was released in several different remix versions in 2001. It remained a dance floor classic in the clubs throughout Europe.

Instant Hit: Valerie Dore- The Night

Italian star Valerie Dore had her debut in 1984 with the melancholic synth-pop tune "The Night" which also became her biggest hit in Europe. The song was produced by Lino Nicolosi and Roberto Gasparini and it was released as both 7" and 12" inch record. Between 1984 and and today it has been released seven times on several different record labels. It also remained as one of the influential Italo-disco tracks which has been covered and remixed ever since the original release. 

Retrovision: P. Lion- Happy Children

The Italian born singer and producer Pietro Paolo Pelandi aka P.Lion made a big breakthrough with "Happy Childern" in 1983. The song was produced by Davide Zambelli of the band Scotch. In 1984, he then released his debut album and several singles followed. Since the original release date in 1983, "Happy Children" has been remastered several times and the most recent one is on 'Nocolors' which also features a remix and instrumental version of the song.

Instant Hit: Dhuo- Walkin'

Italian producer Bruno Bergonzi and Mike Logan recorded several songs and one album under the name Dhuo in the first half of the 80's. "Walking" was the first single which was released from their only album Overflow in 1984. The band released two more singles in 1985 before disbanding.

Instant Hit: The Twins- Ballet Dancer

The German group the Twins has had several hits during the first half of the 80's mostly in Italy with their synth pop driven Italo disco tunes. "Ballet Dancer" was one of their biggest hits charting not only in Italy, but also in their home country. Very up-to-date, it was released in 1983 and appeared on their album A Wild Romance.

Instant Hit: Lustt- Pillow Talk

"Pillow Talk" is a fantastic example from the golden age of Italo Disco and it was released both as 7" and 12" single backed with Instrumental Dub version. BMC records from Belgium gave birth to this single by releasing it in 1983. Sadly it remained the only output by this producer, group or act called Lustt.

Lustt- Pillow Talk

Instant Hit: Cyber People- Polaris

"Polaris" was the first single release for Cyber People in 1984, the same year as the project was formed. It proved to be only a minor hit, as it was only released in Italy, and later in Germany on ZYX Records. The songs features space synths, italo disco style with great melody line and vocoder inputs and in the internet era it has grown into a electronic italo-disco classic.

Next Wave: Terminal Twilight

Terminal Twilight is a Los Angeles based duo which comprises of Molly Frances (vocals, synthesizer) and M Frohman (vocals, synthesizer, guitar, drums). Their music combines heavy disco beats with minimal dark wave forming the unique sound which the duo like to call teardrop electro.

Earlier this year, in March they released the three song digital single, among which is the famous "The Fire of Love" originally performed by Jody Reynolds’ in 1958. Check out other promotional sites for more info about Terminal Twilight.

http://www.infinitesoundtracks.com/pressings/fire.html
http://www.myspace.com/terminaltwiligh

Glass Candy- Feeling Without Touching

Glass Candy have returned with a new EP 'Feeling Without Touching' earlier this year, in February. They have also recorded their first ever official video for their new song entitled "Feeling Without Touching". The video was directed by Travis Peterson. Scroll down to watch it!

(All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright owners)

Glass Candy - 'Feeling Without Touching' from Travis Peterson on Vimeo.

Instant Hit: Baltimora- Chinese Restaurant

Baltimora was an Italian dance outfit which scored a big hit in both Europe and the USA with the song "Tarzan Boy". The album Living in the Background which was released in the same year, was not as successful as the first single and charted only moderately by entering the Top 20 album charts in only a few countries in Europe. "Chinese Restaurant" is another fine track from the album which was released as their debut single in 1985.

Instant Hit: Chrisma- Black Silk Stocking

Chrisma released "Black Silk Stocking" in 1977 as b-side single of "Lola" for Polydor. Both songs were featured on the the album Chinese Restaurant released in the same year. The band was originally from Italy but recorded mostly in English. Their name was a combination of their initials, namely Mauricio Arcieri and Christina Moser. Mauricio sadly passed away last year.

Instant Hit: R.E.M. - Computer Communication

"Computer Communication" was the only release for the Italian group R.E.M., which was Italo-disco and more electronically oriented with vocoder inputs. The single was issued through Xanadu Records in 1983, with the remix version of the song included as the B-side.