New releases last four weeks: Disco/Nu-Disco

Review: It would be fair to say that great Italo-disco albums are few and far between. Ago's 1982 debut album, "For You", is undoubtedly one of the rare examples of an Italo-disco artist getting it right across an entire LP. As this timely reissue proves, the artist (and his production team) was more heavily influenced by U.S disco, boogie and early electrofunk than many of his synth-pop and new wave-loving peers, giving the set an authenticity and warm instrumental feel often lacking in similar Italian exercises. You may find the accented vocals a touch tongue-in-cheek, but the choruses are great, the instrumentation brilliant and the production spot on.

Review: Figi and Luca dell'Orso are Dutch electronic talents who offer up a heartfelt tribute to the vocoder here, long after it has become the iconic voice of electro disco. Across the three well-designed tracks, the duo blends sharp production with lush textures and bittersweet robotic vocals that add an unmistakably retro-future feel. The title track kicks off with rumbling bass and crisp percussion driving it along as vocodered lyrics glide over the shimmering keys. 'Fire with Fire' leans into Luca dell'Orso's more emotive side and balances bold synths with a melancholic undertone. Figi closes with 'Moonlight (Vocoder Version),' a syrupy disco tale of love told through vocoded whispers. It's a timeless celebration of the fusion between man and machine.

Review: With the long-awaited reissue of 'Magic', the trilogy of Celso Valli's early '80s Eyes Records productions is finally complete as it joins 'Future State' and 'Blue Gas' under his Five Sinners alias. Best Record caps off this Italo-disco journey from the legendary Bologna-based composer who was known for hiding behind numerous pseudonyms to separate his commercial dancefloor work from more "serious" music. Once obscure, 'Magic' and 'Precious Lies' emerge from the shadows and sound as fresh as ever. This reissue includes a stunning new remix of 'Magic 'by Dave Mathmos, confirming it as a great slice of Italian disco history.

Review: How many Italo disco records leave you saying, "now *this* is where it's at!"? Even many classics miss the chi-spot, but oh do ZYX Music know where to look for such satiate sounds. Originally released in 1986, JD Jaber's Don't Wake Me Up gleams in new citrusy light: the new 12" maxi single recirculates a genius work by Gianluca Bergonzi, whose clattery percs, rattly sweet melodies, and spandex stabs leave our breaths taken. The hard-to-find original versions feature on the A, while the B-side stirs up two new exclusive remixes mouth-to-mouthing new life into the track (and we're not talking CPR): Flemming Dalum's is steeped in retro finesse, while Dstrtd Sngl takes a more modern route, injecting darker textures and punchier dynamics.

Review: Misty Lane is vocalist Elaine Desjardins, and she worked with producers Michel Bibeau and Ralph Mashats in the mid-80s. Two tunes from that time, 'Energy' and 'Controle', brim with charm and analogue warmth all these years later as they get served up in all their quirky synth-pop style with unmistakable Quebecois flair via Dark Entries. The opener pulses with snappy Roland TR-808 beats and proto-house vibes carried by Desjardins' refreshingly unpolished vocals, while 'Controle' slows things down into a tropical mid-tempo groove that echoes the atmosphere of Junior Byron's 'Dance to the Music.' This reissue is a delight for lovers of Italo, Canadian disco and eccentric synth pop.

Review: Kicking of the fifth volume of Milan's Manzo Edits series after a hat-trick-and-more's worth of Afro-disco edits, we've now 'Rosy' on our ears, a bittersweet disco daydream fattened on swooning strings and lovesick charm. Things get steamier after the fact with 'Amare Moto', a slinky, mid-tempo grind laced with satin synths and late-night shimmer. Flip it over and you have 'You Have To Cry Tonight; tight Italo percs clutter in with big hair energy, and a bassline built for strutting. Closer 'Bring Me' dials up the absurdity: cowbells, yodels, and alpine mischief collide in a peak-time oddball rave.

Review: In celebration of its 40th anniversary, this Italo-disco classic now returns in a deluxe limited edition pressed on 180g vinyl so it can be played nice and out on wonder sound systems. And it will sound superb as it has been remastered from the original master tapes so offers hi-fidelity from its deep bass to its crisp highs. Originally released in 1985, the album broke away from mainstream disco of the day with its innovative, alternative edge and has since gained cult status among audiophiles and Italo fans alike. All the tunes still do a job and are likely gunna get some heavy plays across the summer season and at open-air festivals.

Review: New World makes a strong return to Riotvan with three fresh tracks that build on his previous EPs without repeating them. Blending romantic 80s disco vibes with a modern edge is his MO, and here he does that again with a knowing smirk rather than full nostalgia. Playful and lightly cheesy, yet always sharp and cool, the music avoids gimmicks or empty retro pastiche. 'Stay' has irresistibly sugar synth loops and a retro-future magic, 'Mariage' is a cool and breezy cosmic jaunt and 'Tempus Fugit' brings a snappy kick and clap combo with lush arpeggios reaching for the stars. New World sounds refined, confident and better than ever here.

Review: Spanish producer Rayko has been a key figure in the disco scene since 2008, the point at which he launched the influential Rare Wiri label. His fastidious DJ sets hear him blend underground disco, boogie, funk, and electronica, and surely foregrounded his Vadillo Vice series, where Wiri outpours his rarer, outer-there sonic shinies. 'Towers', 'Cosmic Boy' and 'Napole' all command the subtle sensibility of disco edits, but these are actually originals through and through, making impressive use of what sound like sampled vocals and homegrown syntheses.

Review: Amsterdam's Bordello a Parigi's ongoing Diamonds In The Night series has not only proved to be a reliable source of new - if authentically old sounding - Italo-disco, Hi-NRG and proto-Eurodance, but also a brilliant platform for new and up-and-coming artists. Volume seven in the series is another strong offering. It begins with the tops-off, melody-driven Hi-NRG joy of Tallac's 'Chemtrail Surfers' and concludes with the vocoder-heavy early morning dark bew wavce disco of 'Disco Homicide' by Hypersensitive. Sandwiched in between you'll find the tough, throbbing, strobe-lit and sweat-soaked hedonism of Luksek's 'Tropicale' and the Bobby Orlando and early Pet Shop Boys influenced excellence of 'That Moment' by Francesco Cascella.