Italo disco has been a major force this year in the surge of cosmic disco
and proto-electro continuing to strafe the nation’s clubs and underwear. The
ever-reliable DJ Hell has put together a throbbing selection of hard-to-find
80s nuggets, including B.W.H.’s ‘Livin’ Up’, Digital Emotion’s ‘Don’t Stop’,
Klein & MBO’s ‘Dirty Talk’ and Alexander Robotnik’s 1985 Ah Ou Ah Version of
‘Problemes D’Amour’. The astounding stretches of stratospheric pulse action
to be found on outings like PL’s ‘Transeurpa Express’ and ‘Hypnosis’
Pulstar’ sound like nothing on Earth at times although it winds down with
Yellow Magic Orchestra’s sublimely-Eastern ‘Rydeen’. The set is also laced
with 70s electronic chestnuts like Giorgio Moroder’s ‘The Chase’ and Gino
Soccio’s ‘Remember’, plus a chunk of Patrick Cowley’s techno-inventing 15
minute remix of Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’. Some may remember the
twittering synths of Cerrone’s ‘Supernature’ from chase scenes in The Benny
Hill Show where the girls lose clothing and the old man with the bald head’s
trousers fly off but it’s to Hell’s credit that he can slide in his own
‘Control’ and take the pleasure levels up several notches while keeping his
own mighty techno-strides firmly in place. This fantastic set puts the music
in context as well as performing a public service to trainspotters.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
