Review: Italian label Mondo Groove (part of the Cinedelic family) bring us a six-track collection of obscure female-vocalled cuts from early 80s Italy, with tracks ranging from the gloriously camp Italo-disco of Gioia's "No Secrets" to the straight-up synth-pop of Patrizia Pellegrino's "Bandito" via the cod calypso of Laura Bitto?s "Trinidad" and the Laura Branningan/Pat Benatar-isms of Virna Anderson's "Life Sound". Those with a strong aversion to gorgonzola and mozzarella should probably steer clear but if you can handle the Eurovision-ish aftertaste then Simona Gay's "This Night" has a certain wry charm.
Review: Riccardo Cioni (1954-2021) was a leading light of the Italian disco and funk scene from the mid-70s onwards, and here four contemporary producers take on Italo nugget 'Fog', which first came out back in 1984. Morgan Geist sticks most closely to the slo-mo throbbing blueprint of the original, while Tiger & Woods' remix opens with crackling static and phone touchtones before introducing a new moody bassline... 80s dark electro vibes ahoy! Up next is N.O.I.A's rub, a more smooth-rollin' and discofied affair that takes the gold for yours truly - but only just, because the final remix, from Messrs Baldelli and Dionigi, is every bit the Italo masterclass you'd hope for.
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