The Italian cosmic scene has had a bit of a renewed interest again of late, largely thanks to forward thinking labels such as Compost, and artists like Germany’s DJ Mooner, keen to document the history and generate an appreciation with a new audience. Cosmic disco, linked primarily with names like Daniele Baldelli and Beppe Loda, was hedonistic in its approach to music, drawing on Afro, disco, funk and soul, right through to European electronic pop and rock, generating a sound and cultural identity that was unique, and apparently legendary in it’s decadence and exuberance (predating the UK rave era by a good decade or so). This compilation picks a handful of classics that came to be linked with the sound, offering Euro impressions of sleazy funk, disco and electro. Artists might not be familiar at first glance, save for Heaven 17 or The Rah Band. That said, you’ll instantly connect with tunes made for big sound systems, built from the bass and the beat upwards, with little more than keyboard hooks added for effect If only schools could make history lessons this exciting… Essential.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: DARREN WALL
