Disco Segreta Vinyl & CDs

Review: If you were able to track down an original copy of Dana's soul single, 1977's 'Estate', for sale, it would most likely set you back a few hundred pounds. Helpfully, the excellent Disco Segrata label has tracked down the creators and cut a deal to reissue it. The title track (side A) is a fine example of eccentric, sun-splashed Mediterranean disco of the sort that Italian producers excelled at before the more electronic and synth-pop influenced Italo-disco sound emerged some years later. It does feature some spacey synths, but also organic grooves, infectious lead vocals and some sparkling, suitably summery melodies. 'S'inghelada' takes a similar sonic approach, opting for even heavier bass, liberal use of jazzy and Spanish style guitar solos, and even bolder 'dancing by the beach in Rimini' lead lines.

Review: Disco Segreta unveils a mesmerising tale from late 1970s Italian disco that spotlights Sicilian maestro Franco D'Accardi. Leading ASA (Artisti Siciliani Associati), Franco blended genres including disco, folk and rock when, in 1979, he collaborated with American model Adrienne Edwards, releasing 'Mystic Night' and 'Disco Dancing' on a limited 45 RPM record. 'Mystic Night' electrifies with its fusion of drums, congas, and Adrienne's vocals creating a seductive disco masterpiece. Disco Segreta revitalizes these gems, including the B-side's vibrant rendition of Stanley Turrentine's 'Disco Dancing,' preserving their allure for contemporary audiences. These reissues celebrate the twilight of Italy's golden disco era in impeccable remastered form.

Review: Since launching in 2014, Disco Segreatha has done a great job in unearthing and reissuing Italian disco gems from the late70s and early 80s. Their latest offering takes us back to 1978 and the sole solo release from Lele Patha, the exceedingly hard-to-find 'Stripiz'. Typical of Italian disco of the period, it's a quirky and pleasingly off-kilter affair, where an, organic disco groove is laden with fuzzy synth sounds, breathy male vocal snippets, swirling electronic chords, mazy organ solos and Candido style hand percussion. The release is also notable for a surprise B-side remix, courtesy of Marcello Giordani, which brilliantly re-imagines the cut as a throbbing, drum machine-driven slab of early 80s Italo-disco excellence.

Review: Disco Segreta stick a premium plunger down the pipe of Italian disco history with an unreleased gem from Mario Baldoni, aka Miro (Pat & Pats, Phil Sun, Govindo). Recorded in June 1979, 'Lucky Guy' exists both in the form of Italian and English demos, laid down with top-tier session players like Derek Wilson (drums), Ken Stage (guitar), Mike Logan (keyboards) and backed by Nora Orlandi e I 4+4's ethereal vocals. At the T junction of disco and glam rock - think Mauro Malavasi's 'Revanche' or Daniele Besquet's Giants 'Backdoor Man' - the new remaster sounds bemusingly waterlogged yet all the better for it, offering a glimpse into the unintended avant-gardisms of a pink onesied late 70s Perugian scene.

Review: Susy Pintus's Fragile is an archetypal slice of Italo-disco that captivates with its ethereal synths and sultry vocals. Released in 1986 and now reissued in 2024, this timeless track exudes an atmosphere of sensuality and nostalgia. 'Fragile' is a mesmerizing ballad that showcases Pintus's vocal prowess and the genre's ability to elicit both exhilaration and melancholy. 'Live For Your Love,' is more for the dancefloor with a captivating synth line that weaves through a tapestry of pop melodies. The remix of Fragile infuses the track with a more dance-oriented groove, while the 'Live For Your Love' remix dials up the energy with driving rhythms and soaring synths. This is a great example of the enduring appeal of Italo-disco. Its infectious melodies, seductive lyrics and dreamy atmosphere continue to resonate with listeners decades later.

Review: Italo-disco enthusiasts, strap in for something special, as cult Italian label Disco Segreta celebrates its tenth anniversary with a touched-up, honest-to-time reissue of Cecilia Rizzoli's 'Cosi Non Va'. A priceless Italo disco classic long prized as a collectors' white whale, this unique number 1985 came as an ultra-limited edition of just 500 copies on Scarabes Sound and Discokkio. With hypnotic Juno synths, punchy Linndrum beats, and Cecilia's emotionally charged vocals - providing a glimpse into the Italian singer-songwriter's couth early days - offers melancholic Italo satiation. Remastered from the original analog master and featuring a fresh edit by Claudio Burgos (Mr. Fantasy), this one's a jackpot.

Review: Yet another record in our recent deluge of Italian disco rarities, this one comes from the trusted tastemakers over at Disco Segreta. Spazio Vitale, an 8-piece band from Genoa, originally released this space-age split single to flaunt their instrumental and synth chops in the realm of disco, making heavy use of niche gear like th Eminent 210 Unique and Clavinet Hohner D6. This 7" reissue shines a light on the Genoa scene at the time, important as a bastion of experimental disco.