New Musik is an unbelievable band that was alive from 1979-1982*. That is: active for three years, released three albums, and had three Number One hits. The band was lead by Tony Mansfield, who really loved his Fairlight. He later went on to work with the B-52s and A-Ha (!), and --which I love the most-- produced BrainStorm's winning song in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest, 'My Star'. That fact makes me so happy.

(* I saw somewhere that the band existed in 1977, but I haven't found any releases from then, so I dunno...)

Their musik is everything from lush environmental guitar ballads to synth covers of the Beatles, but all have the same layer of New Musik sound. Sweet, dramatic, weird, almost not danceable but still. I love it. I wish they had done more, but here are three songs from the three albums, and a bonus.

From 'A to B' (1980):

New Musik - Sanctuary
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From 'Anywhere' (1981):

New Musik - Luxury
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From 'Warp' (1982):

New Musik - The New Evolutionist (Example 'A')
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And here's a lovely environmental love song also from 'Warp'. I don't think people were ready for nature-love, so they probably danced with their ears closed.

New Musik - The Planet Doesn't Mind (12" version)
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(Here's more New Musik in an earlier post)

Sisley Ferré is a protege of Michiel Van Der Kuy, the dutch megaman who was in the band Laserdance, took over the Koto project for a few years, and released stuff as Rygar and Desiderio and many others.

"I get a kick from your power
That water for the flower
Don't want nice from above
But from your heart I want your love"

This song from 1986 has some trademark Van Der Kuy production: the clap and the bongo, and something about the bouncyness, but the thing that makes this song supergreat is Sisley Ferré - she is such a hot mama, her voice is so sweet but gets kinda crunchy for dramatic effect. Mmm.

Sisley Ferré - Give Me Your Love
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Cynthia Farroll released one record, which was produced by Vince Tempera. That's all I know. Well, I also know that this 1985 song was written by a Randy Jackson and a Liz Jackson, but I don't know if it's the Randy from American Idol, or the Randy from Jackson 5, or some other Randy. The American Idol judge did have a wife called Elizabeth so that could make sense, but take your pick: (A) Randy writing a great italo song, or (B) Randy being covered by an obscure group.

I like A better. And that explains the song, Randy always being bubbly and wearing those funky shirts and all.

Cynthia Farroll - He's Magic
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Brian Auger's background is very, very different from most of the artists here.

In short: he's a super prolific artist and a Hammond keyboardist who studied under Jimmy Smith, formed a band with Rod Stewart, played with Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, was nominated for a Grammy, and recorded with Eric Burdon.

Take some of his work out of context (that is, forget everything about Julie Driscoll and performing in Las Vegas) and you have prima Italo right here.

Brian Auger - Night Train to Nowhere
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Here's a brandnew remix I did of 'Return of the Mack' by Mark Morrison. For the music I sampled and messed around with the wonderful 'Fallery' by Hemmi Gunn (Icelandic loved actor, singer, tv celebrity, you name it!).

I also re-edited the video a bit to make it fit my version -- now Mark Morrison and his posse are jammin' to da gangsta polka, just like they should:

(my favorite is at 3:24 when the dj's are jammin' hard...)

Here's the song:

Mark Morrison
Return of the Mack (Kontrapunkt's Fallery of the Mack remix)

Enjoy and play loud!

Kontrapunkt - Italo Rider (mix)

01. Maskio - 'Dear Sir'
02. BWH - 'Stop'
03. Blind Date - 'Your Heart Keeps Burning'
04. Time & Love - 'Tea for Two'
05. Moments - 'The Station'
06. Doctor's Cat - 'Feel The Drive (vocal mix)'
07. Klapto - 'Queen Of The Night'
08. P4F - 'Diamond'
09. Den Harrow - 'Broken Radio'
10. Starflight - 'Dance To The Beat'
11. Blue - 'Everybody Needs Somebody'
12. Jago - 'I'm Going To Go (vocal mix)'
13. Ivan - 'Fotonovela (Chapter II)'
14. Klapto - 'Mister Game'
15. Tabú D'Apache - 'Don't Believe In Love'
16. Pineapples - 'Come On Closer'
17. Cellophane - 'Gimmy Love'
18. Mya & The Mirror - 'Hesitation'
19. Fun Fun - 'Give Me Your Love'
20. Sylvia - 'Automatic Lover'

(Right click + save, it's 74 mins of pure bliss.)

Just added MIXES to the navigation on the left (under my face).

The first mix I did with Svenni (a.k.a. Terrordisco a.k.a. Dj Forever Lover) earlier this summer, promoting our Italonight Special which we hosted a few times over the Icelandic summer.

Lots of track edits and messaround.

Dj Shy Like An Angel & Dj Forever Lover present:
Italomix #1!!!

01. Savage - 'A Love Again'
02. Italian Boys - 'Forever Lovers'
03. RAF - 'Self Control' vs. Sandra - 'Maria Magdalena'
04. N.O.I.A. - 'Stranger In A Strange Land (Club Mix)'
05. Cheaps - 'Moliendo Café'
06. International Music System - 'Dancing Therapy'
07. Massara - 'Margherita'
08. Casco - 'Cybernetic Love'
09. Maskio - 'Subway'
10. My Mine - 'Hypnotic Tango'
11. La Bionda - 'I Wanna Be Your Lover'
12. Q - 'The Voice Of Q'
13. Public Passion - 'Flash In The Night'
14. Charlie - 'Spacer Woman'
15. The Immortals - 'Ultimate Warlord'
16. Moses - 'We Just (edit)'
17. Mike Mareen - 'Dancing In The Dark (Galaktica remix)'
18. Cyber People - 'Polaris'
19. Body Electric - 'Magic Electronic'
20. Trax - 'Crusader'
21. Garcons - 'French Boy'
22. Julius Brown - 'Party'
23. Lime - 'Babe We're Gonna Love Tonite'
24. Yellow Magic Orchestra - 'Rydeen'

(Right click + save, it's 74 mins of pure love.)

More to come.

Tabù D'Apache's second release from 1986, just as good as the first one.

Cooooooloooooooouuuuuuuuuuurrssssss....

I can't get over how much I love the singer. He probably had no idea just how good he was, but he must have had some moves when he sang. Eyes half closed and fists in the air.

And: this song should also have been a huge mega-hit. Boohoo.

Tabù D'Apache - Colours
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Autumn - The Game is what I think it's called, but I'm actually not sure: I only own a digital copy which says "Autumn - 'The Game'", but I think it might be mislabeled. According to the album's info it should either be "Autumn - 'Time Is On Our Side'" or "Linear Movement - 'The Game'...

...buuut whatever: listen to the song, love it, and tell me if you know the real title.

Autumn - The Game
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Donna Laser Orchestra comes from your future (yeah, YOUR future) and follows you around playing highly dramatic Space Disco, perfect for your cosmic voyage. And when I say perfect, I mean PERFECT!

And, of course is this 1984 release their only one, and not much info to be found.

Donna Laser Orchestra - Vega Synthauri
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Claudio Cecchetto is a hero, and a bit of a star in Italy (and, of course, in my heart). His work includes a collaboration with Goblin (!) and production of so so many incredible hits, like:
- Taffy - 'I Love My Radio' and 'Walk Into The Daylight'
- Sabrina - 'Boys'
- Sandy Marton - 'People from Ibiza'
- P4F - 'Diamond'
...and bunch of other lovely tracks.

P4F probably stands for Propaganda For Frankie, I'm not sure, but that's the name of one of their early releases.

I've loved 'Diamond' since I heard it for the first time. So many layers of happiness and it sounds sooo crisp and clean. It's dramatic, I mean, what else do you expect when you're singing about a diamond, and some guy in a mansion. At least that's what I think the lady sings. Something about a 'no man great' (I think), who is either 'living in a mansion', or 'living in imagine'. Either way, he's really lucky having all those diamonds, 'shining with desire' and all.

P4F - Diamond
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Taffy's real name is Katherine Quaye, and she released some megasongs. Apart from her hits, her greatest moment was probably being a part of Ferry Aid's 'Let It Be', yeah, the one with Paul McCartney, Alvin Stardust, Mel & Kim, and Kate Bush, to name a few. Wow.

"Let me tell you
what's on your mind
You don't want me
I ain't blind

Love has started
love must end
I'll get over
Be your friend"

Could be Jennifer Rush or Aretha Franklin, but no, this is Taffy in full force. And it's my favorite Taffy track, too. Released in 1984, it's not that unlikely that someone created a dance for the song. It's that kinda song.

Taffy - Walk Into The Daylight (Extended Version)
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This is Taffy's most famous hit, released in 1985, and mixed a gazillion times, not necessarily remixed, but rather a lot of versions. And I love this version. It has a much longer intro and the piano part gets all super hyper, Bruce Hornby style. It's also kinda funny how her voice is much lower in this song than in the one above. The arpeggio will make the toughest criminal all giggly and cuddly, I promise.

Taffy - I Love My Radio (Long Version)
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