(08.27.07) Since 1985 they have lay dormant in Italy, whilst new ears found their
sound. For over twenty years, Superradio Records has been synonymous with
Italo Disco. Artists and groups, like Sun La Shan, Camaro’s Gang,
Atmosphere, Barry Mason and Venise were responsible for some of the tracks
of the 1980s spaghetti dance scene. Now Superradio records has returned.
Since their departure, computers have become an intricate part of electronic
music and things have changed; can these past masters still shine or has
Supermix 2007 lost touch with modern electronic sound?
The mix opens with Venise and the hazy “Web Lover.” The track has a dreamy,
synthesizer feel with some brasher chords with Venise’s distorted vocals.
The track has a different quality to what the older records had, but that
disco tone is still there. Atmosphere move in with rolling synths and sharp
beats for “Red Light Film.” This piece is all about the synthesizer, as it
moves and falls, with some vocal movements here and there. Already that
addictive quality of Superradio is coming through. Vintage Superradio sound
is mixed in with Sun La Shan’s “Geisha Moon,” a back beat reminiscent of
“Catch.” Lightness and synth sunshine fun return with Camaro’s Gang and
“Young School Lovers.” The track has that italo energy, but with a modern
twist and the fuzzed aspect of the previous songs coming through.
The synth action is turned up for Venise’s “Rainbow Road.” The vocals are
straight out of 80’s Milano, but the effects and echoing once more ground
the piece in today. The air synths need to be employed for this wicked work.
Great track. Sun La Shan team up with the plastic clad nu romantix duo of
Hong Kong Counterfeit, many will remember them from releases on labels such
as Erkrankung Durch Musique . The collaboration’s track is entitled “Crash,”
perhaps a homage to the Doctor’s Cat track sporting the same appellation.
The piece is more of a blend of italo elements with some electro tweaks. The
melody is solid, with Venise’s dreamy lyrics floating as vocoded sparks make
their way in. The atmospheric nature of the track moves into Venise’s moody
“Endless Colours.” “Rotterdam Heart” by Venise is flawlessly mixed in as
rippling synths flow and beats snap. Definitely one of the tracks of the
album.
Camaro’s Gang are back with “Y.S.L. (Bunker Version.).” The faded fuzz is
present in this track as synth lines are echoed back and forth across
twilight vocals. The team of Hong Kong Counterfeit and Sun La Shan team up
for the “Crash (Decadence mix),” with the former taking a central role in
this sound. The lines are cleaner, and vocals easier to decipher and the
vocodes much more electro. There’s a darkness to this italo-electro
turnover, creating a wicked piece of music. Atmosphere lead out the mix,
firstly with the ominous “Beyond the Grand Canyon” and then into the full
war march of “Baltic Fly;” an amazing track to finish the album on.
There was talk about the sound quality on this release, but, supposedly,
Franco was simply pushing his mixer to its limits; leading to some fuzz. But
this hazed aspect brings a new element to that Superradio sound, something
slightly different to their material of the 1980s. Sadly, the italo disco
scene of the 1980s is no more; but Superradio records is still alive and
strong, churning out new disco love for the 21st century.
Superradio Records Presents Supermix 2007 is out now on Superradio.
