Gay Cat Park :: Synthetic Woman (Medical)

Similar to Guyer’s Connection (also on Medical), Gay Cat Park are emblematic of the youthful verve that surged through the beginnings of the synthesizer revolution. Synthetic Woman is a prototype of not just Italo, but of New Wave and Electronics as a whole. A future classic.

[Release page] It was five or six years ago I first heard of Gay Cat Park. The Cybernetic Broadcasting System was still running and the Italian group’s “I’m a Vocoder” was a firm favourite of the Dutch radio stream. In 1984 the youthful trio of Davide Gatti and Graziano Ravizza formed the ridiculously named outfit. Their hit, “I’m a Vocoder” was the first release,’82, of the infamous Il Discotto. Since then the group have obtained a modicum of notoriety based around their catchy Italo Disco obscurity, with their track being revived on vinyl in 2007. But now, after a twenty eight year hiatus, Gay Cat Park are back with their debut album: Synthetic Woman.

The album is an extension and expansion of “I’m a Vocoder.” Incredibly, the record was crafted when Gay Cat Park were a boy band, beginning at the tender age of fourteen. The LP was recorded between ’82—’84 and brims with an innocent charm. The opening “GCP” is arguably the most esoteric before we get down to the synth and computer obsessed central content. Their Il Discotto hit is present and will guarantee to fill any floor. But of more interest are the unheard pieces. “My Love is Electronic” screams with analogue bravado, staccato in assembly but a powerful product. “A Bunch of Flowers” is like the victory titles of Sensible Soccer, an uplifting and chirpy proto-Chiptune that with future echoes of Astro Chicken. As for Italo Disco comparisons, Gay Cat Park were a D.I.Y. outfit established before the explosion, and ultimate polishing, of Spaghetti Dance. The likes of L’ectric Workers come to mind ,and to some extent Brand Image, but the group have definite elements of the New Wave with some Depeche Mode moments coming through. But nothing in the album is aggressive or angst-ridden, instead there is an electronic optimism. There is no industrial undercurrent, only a sunny disposition. Sometimes there are elements of Alexander Robotnick and modern moments of Skanfrom, but overall there is a wonderfully pared back synthesizer purity epitomised in the finale “Television.”

Arguably Italo Disco has had its day, many times over. It is a finite resource, and one that seems to have been mined for all its worth. But every once in a while a DJ, or label, returns from the coalface with an unseen jewel. Medical have managed to find not only one such gem, but an album full. Gay Cat Park have been a one hit wonder for too long, now they add substance to their status. Across Synthetic Women this group of teens tried and tested the fledgling machines of electronic music. Similar to Guyer’s Connection (also on Medical), Gay Cat Park are emblematic of the youthful verve that surged through the beginnings of the synthesizer revolution. Synthetic Woman is a prototype of not just Italo, but of New Wave and Electronics as a whole. A future classic.

Synthetic Woman is available on Medical. [Release page]