20JFG are once again lost in the haunted starfields of discomatic space, and is it any coincidence that Strut is resurrected and about to release a compilation entitled “Disco Italia”? – no, it was always written in the heavens! This compilation should just be the most awesomest, hitting the listener with one rare gem after the other from the likes of gay leather fist-of-fun merchants, Easy Going, plus their cousin band Kasso, the high priests of planet Africa, Kano and Valentine’s call and response strutfest, “Tina Are You Ready?” (no room for vocals on that one, its b-boy made of ice instrumental). Then there is this:

Number One Ensemble – Flor De Coca

The compiler of this Italian vision of mirrorball adoration, Steve Kotey (member of Chicken Lips), heads for the more organic sound of italo, less laser more low slung bass and dance guitar, drum machines turned off and drum sticks dusted off. Just think how Kano were a proper band with the black spirit of funk twisting through the instruments, and not just a shady Italian producer who stuck out an icy finger and pressed it doen on a keyboard. “Flor De Coca” by Number One Ensemble twangs into existence, soaring across rousing strings of silvery delicate strands, as an angelic choir evoke ethereal tales of magical love across the skies.

More re-releases of forgotten greats from the crystal vaults of Italo come from the Synthonic label, who release a double headed 12″ disco dragon with MC1 and Egotrya – two entities shrouded in mystery.

Memory Control One (MC1) – Counter

Memory Control One (MC1) were first heard spinning out from the cold centre of space with bubbling synthetic brilliance on DJ Mooner’s epic exploration into 33rpm dance music, the “Elaste: Slow Motion Disco” compilation. “Counter” thumps with kick drums and metropolitan synth stabs that fire beams of light into the sky where the neon outline of a female dancer strides in heels across the dark backdrop of the night sky. The very best italo is faultlessly shimmering, devoid of vocals and features too many melodies for just one song, each one trying to out do the other of the most dramatic synthline award – this song has all that. Check the 12″ at Juno.

Lastly, we visit the yacht of Mr Dompteur Mooner, moored up on an exclusive island just off the coast of Paradise. Pollyester is here, lounging in the shadow of a pyramidical umbrella, the infinite flashing cosmos reflected in her vintage sunglasses.

Pollyester – You Are Amen (Dompteur Mooner Mix)

Its nitetime so Dompteur Mooner can begin, sending out a signal of darkly skeletal synthesiser blips, hissing and clicking in a slow advancement across the waters, away from paradise and down into the murky depths of intrigue. These depths are still vaguely lit by the steely cobalt blue of the moon reflecting on the surface, but the slight breeze chops up the beats into percussive loops and sinister elements close in on the vocals, restricting them to solemn hummings.

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TONITE! >>>>>>

Epilogue -
This post is tagged with italo italo disco