Review: Former May68 and The Clerks member Camille Bertin broke cover earlier this year, launching the Alan Dente alias with a sprightly Italo-disco cut on Red Laser's eighth split EP. Here he's given a chance to really show what he can do, with a debut solo EP on Bordello A Parigi. There's plenty to get excited about amongst the four tracks, including the evocative, Balearic-minded synth-funk of "Dark Nebula", and the spacey, late night synth-wave shuffle of "Desert Road", which sounds like something you'd expect to hear on Italians Do It Better. Arguably best of all, though, is opener "Magnus Force", which layers cascading synth-lines and delay-laden percussion hits atop dreamy chords and a classic, Italo-disco arpeggio.
Review: Given his deep-rooted love of old synthesizers, wonky drum machines and the arpeggio-heavy throb of Italo-disco, it was probably only a matter of time before Ali Renault made an appearance on Bordello A Parigi. Happily, Altro Mondo sees him in fine form, with the title track offering a perfect combination of muscular, throbbing grooves, swirling chords and ear-pleasing synthesizer melodies. "Fume" begins in deep and melodious mood, but gets darker and wonkier in feel as the track progresses, while Uabos's remix of "Lenticular" combines Renault's breezy Italo-disco with distinctive nods towards classic British rave music. For added authenticity, original Italo-disco vocalist Fred Ventura adds his distinctive tones to cheery EP highlight "Nowhere".
Review: Frankfurt based retrovert Stefan Haag aka Chinaski is usually more affiliated with the Live At Robert Johnson camp, but finds an equally fitting home here on Bordello a Parigi with his post-Italo exploits. All in all it's a very neon-lit affair on the Unschuld Der Sinne EP, the title track is ever evident of this with its glimmering, laser-ish synths and powerful "Axel F" style arpeggios. However "Surfin' Death" him pursue some more EBM style aesthetics that are currently in vogue. There's more of this style explored on the muscular neon-lit body music of "Ab In Die Ewigkeit which is reminiscent of Belgian legends Front 242.
Review: Given the impressive number of labels he's released on over the last decade (Safer At Night, Throne of Blood, Let's Play House and OFF Recordings amongst them), we were rather surprised to find that this is Curses' first outing on Bordello a Parigi. There are two original cuts to choose from: "Pedal To The Metal & Don't Look Bad", a wonky Italo-disco jam full of fuzzy rock guitar riffs and spacey eight-bit synthesizer melodies, and the EBM-influenced throb of industrial strength workout "Knife In Teeth". Both cuts are given the remix treatment, with Tarr providing a more muscular, peak-time Italo revision of "Pedal To The Metal & Don't Look Back" before Birds of Paradise re-imagine "Knife In Teeth" as a drowsy and unusual chunk of industrial/IDM fusion.
Review: Valencia's Daniel Kyo is a well respected artist in the underground electronica scene, with over fifty pieces of work released since producing from only seventeen years old and having lived surrounded by music from an early age. He arrives next on the Dutch Bordello A Parigi imprint with four tracks showcasing his hometown's synthesizer traditions. "Evanescence" is a coldwave/synthpop journey for eyeliner and fishnet clad new romantics while the classic groove of "Echoman" calls to mind the early EBM of Front 242. Finally "Wrong Way" does neon-lit retro house in fine fashion and in a similar way to the likes of Tuff City Kids. An EP of electronic elegance and robust proportions.
Review: Bordello A Parigi's long-running Riviera Disco series is undeniably nostalgic in outlook, serving up new music inspired by imaginary European beach holidays in the early-to-mid-80s. That's not meant as a criticism, as the music is invariably superb. This sixth installment delivers plenty of sparkling, retro-futurist thrills, from the tactile, slightly melancholic synth-disco shuffle of John Parsley & Jack Pattern's "Sequential Move", to the classic, arpeggios-and-cheery melodies of Luca Dell'Orso's ZYX style Italo-disco bubbler "Wave No. 3". Those fantasizing about sweaty, late night dances in sticky, sea front clubs should head for the muscular grooves, druggy arpeggios and spacey melodies of Daniel Kyo's "Cami De Pinedo", and the eyes-closed bliss of Mystery of Science's luscious "Planet of Love".
Review: Dark synthpop in the vein of Beta Evers, Marie Davidson or Sally Shapiro by French duo Digital Romance for the always reliable Bordello A Parigi. This follows up a tremendous album by the legendary Fred Ventura as Italoconnection last month. Comprised of Gael Herry aka Pierre De La Touche on production duties and the mysterious Marie De Berlin on vocals. "Forgotten Love" is reminiscent of the Bobby Orlando produced Hi-NRG sounds in the early '80s - in particular Roni Griffiths. Brooding yet sexy late night Italo business in convincingly nostalgic fashion heard next on "Drive". It's packed full of vintage synth arpeggios another one of De Berlin's powerful vocal performances. Finally the absolutely neon-lit pop of "Wetter Than Water" sounds like an unearthed sleeper hit from the '80s: that could well have been an anthem on a John Hughes film.
Review: Debutants Forklift & Saw (AKA producers Andrea Pellegrinelli and David Burgola) clearly have a deep-rooted love of Italian electronic disco territory, because all four tracks here sound like long-lost relics of the golden age of Italo-disco (the cheeky Regressive Disco title is rather apt). The Milan duo begin with the bold, organ style chords, bustling arpeggio bassline and woozy lead lines of "Another Day", before heading into space via the glistening melodies and alien electronics of "Supernova". The cheery melody lines return on the classic Italo-disco stomp of "Endless Journey", before they cannily combine John Carpenter style horror-disco with more muscular influences on tasty closer "Ride The Highway".
Review: Tongue-in-cheek, hands-in-the-air sweatiness is the order of the day as Hard Ton joins forces with Tom Holkenborg (AKA chart-botherer Junkie XL) to present a quartet of remixes of "Triple XL". The Italian duo's in-house "Reshape" leads the charge, with the delightfully camp vocal riding a Rimini-friendly fusion of Italo-disco, disco-house and mid-80s style Pet Shop Boys. Domenico Torti throws mentalist acid lines into the mix on his full-throttle 'House Mix', while DJ Overdose applies the eyeliner for a trip into breakdance-era electro/new wave fusion. Finally, there's a timely reminder of the talents of the late Andreas Gehm, whose throbbing, hard-as-nails acid house re-make is the EP's best moment.
Review: Photographer-turned-producer, Ichisan, made quite a name for himself on the nu-disco scene some years back. He's been a little quiet since, but that's all going to change with the release of "Metamundus" on Dutch disco label Bordello A Parigi. The overriding theme for the three new cuts here is a fusion of bubbly 303 acid with Italo disco; the title track sees a particularly squelchy 303 provide a stuttering funk counterfoil to some melancholic 80s Euro synth washes, "Bar Trenutek" is all about pulsating hiNRG arpeggios and dream-like melodies, and finally "Terasa' wraps things up with some lo-fi Bontempi kitchiness.
Review: Slovenian space cadet Ichisan returns to the scene of the cosmic crime as he revisits select cuts from last year's superlative debut album Aperitiv. All equally velvet, "Hotel Jama" feels even more welcoming with its glistening strings, "Modri Tunel" is all about the deep dubby dynamics while "Kozmetika" while have you hot shoe shuffling quicker than you can say vibraphone. Finally "Terminal E" will fly you first class to wherever your head needs to be. Stunning, as always.
Review: Given his history of blending elements of Italo-disco, kosmiche and Moroder style electro-disco, it was little surprise when Infinity Night popped up on Bordello A Parigi last year with the excellent Winter EP. Here, he delivers the aptly named follow-up, Summer. Fittingly, the EP's six tracks blend bold, sunny, and attractive analogue synthesizer lines with bustling, arpeggio-heavy grooves. Highlights are plentiful, from the sparkling chug of "La Renicontre", and cheery throb of the extra-melodious "Drive Into The Night", to the sun-baked afternoon shimmer of opener "Dolce Melancholy".
Dimmi Di Si (feat Hard Ton - instrumental) - (6:53) 120 BPM
Review: Here's something of a surprise: nu-disco veterans Irregular Disco Workers popping up on Otto Kraanen's Bordello A Parigi imprint. As befits a label dedicated to celebrating Italo-disco, proto-house and synth fetishism, Italofficina is little less than a wholehearted tribute to European and American dance music of the early-to-mid 1980s. They begin with "Dimmi Di Si", with Hard Ton doing his best Fred Ventura impressions over a breezy Italo groove. "Les Foiles" offers some early Chicago jack, while "Electronic Emotions" expertly joins the dots between chugging Italo and jaunty nu-disco. Finally, "Crisi Mistica" navigates calmer waters, fusing the dreamy melodiousness of deep house with the analogue pulse of Italo.
Review: Italo legend Fred Ventura teams up with sound specialist Paolo Gozzetti on this fabulous LP. After years of collaborations, we finally have the debut album from the duo, which follows up their Voyage EP. Metropoli explores a cityscape of variety. From the avenues of synth-pop and plazas of space disco, the boulevards of Italo to new wave skyscrapers: many lend their unique attitudes, experiences and voices for some incredibly special music. The beautiful tones of Francesca Gastaldi feature prominently on this brand new album; tones which marry perfectly with addictive synth lines. Lyrical partnerships are pivotal across the 11 tracks also, where old friends and new have come together: Alessandra Contini of Il Genio, Martin Blix of Italove and Italo godfather Francesco Rago of 'Lectric Workers, Decadance, Expansives and Wanexa fame. From the glimmering and bittersweet vintage pop of "Humanize" or the aptly titled late night sleaze of "Neon Disco" to the cinematic Giallo tinged drama of "Life Happens" and the absolutely epic title track. Ventura proves from time to time again that he is one one of Italo's most enduring icons.
Review: Bordello A Parigi has just returned from a fruitful expedition to Russia and presents Super Sax Sounds: a rich and varied expression from St Petersburg synthesizer playboy Kito Jempere. Now here is an artist that has explored a spread of sounds during his career. The first two tracks are the product of one diverse machine: the Yamaha QY-70. Beginning with the late night neon-lit disco of "Bueller's Dance" which indeed does sound like it was lifted from a John Hughes soundtrack, as does the evocative and bittersweet score of "Space Commercial" with its tapestry of rich synth textures. We particularly enjoyed closing track "Tomohawk", a mysterious journey through the exotic with its middle eastern aesthetic conjured form analogue machines.
