The legendary Alexander Robotnick (a nickname Maurizio Dami assumed in the 80’s) is a towering name in Florentine music and someone who very much defined the early disco scene thanks to a superb run of enduring club cuts, not least his seminal ‘Problèmes D’amour’. Although he is now in his 70s, he is still kicking out essential jams. His music features plenty of the arpeggios that have always given his music its character, coming on labels like Permanent Vacation, Clone, Bordello a Parigi and Bosconi Records. As the Italian electronic music pioneer returns with a fab new album, ‘Simple Music’, this winter, DMCWorld goes back to mine with the mighty Alexander Robotnick.
Kraftwerk – Computer World
I listened to their music for the first time in a show at the Squat Theatre . It was a pure soundtrack with melodies made with electronics. Wow ! The Computer World came later.
John Fox – Metamatic
This is genuine “Synth Pop”: fascinating melodies and his voice seems to come from another planet.
The Residents – Commercial Album
Whenever I want to cheer up I listen to the Commercial Album. The world seen from its perspective looks really weird. But the real world is even more bizarre .
Suicide – The Second Album
This is probably one of the albums I have most listened to. It resonates at a darker level of my mind and sounds cathartic. Martin Rev is a genius and Alan Vega the American voice taken to its extreme.
Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians
Pure magic, but carefully programmed and played. Despite being very long I never get bored of it. It’s 6/8 rhythm takes numberless forms. Hypnotic
Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
This is just one of many Miles’ tracks that I love. You listen to such tracks once in a while all throughout your life.
John Coltrane – Coltrane
This one too is just one of many that I love. Here the mythical quartet attains a true state of art. While listening to it, you understand that music is a dimension and any melody played by Coltrane and McCoy Tyner creates a wider one.
Weather Report – Sweet Nighter
It was my introduction to Fusion music and immediately afterwards to Jazz. This track and Misterious Traveler represent the band’s best period. After that they became a bit more commercial .
Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
I listened to it in Summer 1972 at a club under the bridge at Vondelpark ( now the club is gone ). It had just been released and came to me wrapped in a smoke cloud. Mesmerizing.
Manuel Gottshing – E2-E4
It’s perfect on a trip by car but also at a country house and with friends at dinner. I love the improvisation on guitar which sounds so natural and heartfelt and not a single note is wrong! (but one)
Alexander Robotnick ‘Simple Music’ Album will be released on December 2nd on Hot Elephant.
