Italo Disco

Super rare Italo electro-pop project Habibi made available by the unstoppable archive label BEST RECORD. Habibi is a joyous Egyptian-influenced Italo piece from the time that Egyptian Lover and Arabian Prince also had their Egyptian influences. Many of the typical elements of the 'Italo-Disco' era give the song a very friendly and reassuring mood, especially the (probably) Linndrum beat with tom fills and tambourine, alternating bass, a sequencer emphasizing the eights, and strings, a nice Hammond added/ "Habibi" was conceived in 1983 by Arcangelo Li Calzi after the success of the one-off project Sahara Band, with Giancarlo Ragni, the skilled arranger from Genga that produced the piece entirely in his Vallemania Recording Studio, the studio where most of the afro-cosmic songs of the dee-jays of the nearby Baia degli Angeli were made, including the album "Africa Mediterranea" by Fabrizio Fattori. The artist Myriam Ferrucci did a lovely job on the graphic work on the cover which is represented in its original way. Worthy re-issue from the depths of the golden Italo era.

In the studio of the small Italian town of Cremona, some of the famous but early representatives of a not-yet-named- music style called Italo Disco get together to record a song. Among them are the most active and influential singers, producers and arrangers of this musical movement from Cesare Pasquali to Jimmy Mc Foy including Ottavio Bacciocchi.Most importantly, two friends, Larry Pignagnoli and the famous Ivana Spagna, were writing a song together. It has been unnoticed so far, but always had the power and stamina to make the dead dance.Pardonnez-nous, but here it is !

Tempo Dischi is an italian label created on a mission to discover and repress classics and rare italian gems of the italo disco, afro and cosmic scene. With the support from all the main players who has made that era magic, we work to put back on records stores shelves a piece of art that may have been lost but it’s still timeless.The fourth release is a double A side release from the japanese electronic music pioneer Hideki Matsutake. Composer, arranger and programmer he is certainly known as member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra with Ryuichi Sakamoto from 1978 to 1982. In 1981 he launched his own project Logic System, producing essential songs like ‘Unit’ and ‘Clash’ that are included in the seminal album ‘Logic’.‘The first half of the 70s was an era of practices and challenges for me’ comments Hideki ‘I started at the studio of the legendary electronic music pioneer Isao Tomita where i touched a synthesizer for the first time. I explored the Moog modular learning how to create sounds that nobody had heard. It was a stimulating period for music. Loads of the Japanese pop of this era was an active mix of different genres like jazz, fusion, electronic music, enka and more, and there were many experimental sounds. The experience with Yellow Magic Orchestra has been wonderful, but I've always had the desire to produce my music based on my own experiences.The first synthesizer I purchased was Moog IIIc and then an E-mu Modular System. The Roland MC-8 was also revolutionary in creating never-ending and precise rhythm patterns. I produced the first album ‘Logic’ together with my partner Ryo Kawakami. At the time I was working with him on different projects. Inspired by the principle of transformation, we were transported by thoughts, musical contexts and experimental elements that guided us to the production of this record’The B side is a special italo disco version of ‘Unit’ produced by the Italian studio team Mito, formed by Natale Bellotti, Italo Portesani and Stefano Secchi. The idea of ​​this remaking came from friend and colleague Stefano Secchi. I think it was 1982’ recalls Italo Portesani ‘I introduced the project to Natale Bellotti who agreed to participate as executive producer. The studio band of Mito was born. The sound of Unit was already electronic and minimal but we thought to make it more danceable and in the mood with the italo disco and electro pop sound’

Two cuts taken from the Black Sun 2 LP, originally released in 1980 by the US Panache Records, now remastered and available on a special 12 inch disco version via Omaggio, courtesy of Philippe Walter!