Roland TR-808: Heart of the Genre
The story of the drum machine that created the rhythmic face of Italo Disco and a dozen other genres - from hip-hop to synthwave.
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Notes on music, craft, and the era
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Fancy: the German Who Became Italian
One of the '80s' most popular "pseudo-Italian" artists - the German Fancy and his remarkable career in the Italo Disco aesthetic.
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Laserdance: the Dutch Masters of Space Disco
Erik van Vliet and Michiel van der Kuy built one of the instrumental Italo Disco flagships. Humanoid Invasion, Power Run, influence on synthwave, and current work.
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P. Lion and "Happy Children": the Story of a 1983 Hit
Jacopo Paolucci recorded "Happy Children" at 18, and the track became one of Italo Disco's defining hits. The story of the artist and the fate of his main composition.
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The Strangest Artist Pseudonyms
From "Baltimora" to "Topo & Roby" - a look at the most unusual names in Italo Disco and how Italians picked their stage names.
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When Italo Disco Hit Advertising
How Italo Disco tracks have been used in advertising for decades - from chewing gum and mouthwash to cars and perfume.
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Koto: the Space Disco Flagship
Andrea Cresci's instrumental project with hits Visitors and Jabdah defined the space disco sound. A key team in Italo Disco's instrumental branch, still influencing synthwave.
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La Bionda: the Pioneer Brothers of Italo Disco
Carmelo and Michelangelo La Bionda from Sicily recorded Bandido and One for You, One for Me before Italo Disco was born. Their production school laid the foundations for the whole genre.
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Must-Have Italo Disco Collection: 20 Tracks
The ideal starting Italo Disco collection of 20 tracks. I Like Chopin, Tarzan Boy, Self Control, Visitors, Fantasy - the base no fan of the genre can skip.
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Tracy Spencer: the Female Voice of the Era
The story of one of the few female stars of mid-'80s Italo Disco and her path from Sanremo to international popularity.
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Tracks for Late Night
A selection of Italo Disco compositions for the deep night hours - when you need music with a particular atmosphere, melancholy, and drama.
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Why All the Songs Sound So Similar
Looking at why Italo Disco tracks feel like variations on a single melody - the technical, economic, and cultural reasons for the genre's signature sound.
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Space Disco: the Cosmic Branch of Italo Disco
Koto, Laserdance, Hipnosis - flagships of space disco, the instrumental branch of Italo Disco with cosmic aesthetics. Origins, key tracks, and influence on synthwave.
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Gender Dynamics in Italo Disco
75% male artists versus 20% female, session vocalists in the shadow, Sabrina's provocative videos - gender roles in Italo Disco from a modern perspective.
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10 Best Italo Disco Instrumentals
Alongside the vocal hits there's a whole universe of instrumental Italo Disco. Visitors, Jabdah, Humanoid Invasion, Pulstar - ten key space disco compositions.
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Eddy Huntington: a Brit on the Italian Team
The story of the young Englishman who became one of Italo Disco's stars with the hit "USSR" - a track charged with Cold War political context.
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Alan Barry and His "Come On, Come On"
The story of an Italian artist working under an English pseudonym and his energetic mid-'80s hit.
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