Italians Do It Better US Vinyl & CDs

Review: .It's pretty much impossible not to fall in love with Desire, no matter where you arrive in their discography. Formed by Johnny 'Chromatics and Glass Candy' Jewel and vocalist Megan Louise, and formerly synth-drum maestro Nat Walker, the group debuted on Jewel's now-legendary Italians Do It Better in 2009, and their first record, II was heralded as one of the decade's finest. More than ten years later, Escape reflected how things had developed during the years betwixt. Still saturated in a kind of borrowed nostalgia, yet focused firmly on crafting innovative arrangements, few outfits can simultaneously sound so polished and yet born to play in the reddish glows of darkened rooms in grimy DIY spaces. As unique today as the record was when it landed, and the outfit were when they initially emerged.

Review: Back in 2009, this Canadian synth pop act took the scene by storm with its exciting debut album. Whether it was the lipstick 80s melancholy of 'Mirroir Mirroir' or 'Don't Call or the minimalistic blending of disco and synth wave on the lead single 'If I Can't Hold You', the band's sound helped lead a vintage resurgence in this vein akin to Chromatics or Kate Bush. Led by the sultry vocals and delivery of Megan Louise, the album is a catchy example of underground melodic electronic pop music. This reissue helps meet the demand of one of the premier examples of a female led synth pop band in recent years.

Review: Italian's Do It Better drop another super cool release - "Beatbox" by Glass Candy. This is cool synth driven pop with vocals from Ida No.

Review: After breaking a decade-long hiatus by releasing the Sad Cities album last year, Swedish disco mavericks Sally Shapiro have been on a roll through their association with Italians Do It Better. Jonny Jewel's label is the perfect home for their Italo-informed, pop-baiting sound, and now they're back with a new single called 'Rent'. It's another seductive excursion into the future-past of electronic disco, with the extended mix on the A-side complemented by the instrumental on the B-side and a team-up between NICOLAAS and Steve Moore for a remix. Meanwhile, Italoconnection step up for a version of Sad Cities track 'Believe In Me', rounding out another strong EP from Shapiro and Italians Do It Better alike.

Review: Swedish duo Sally Shapiro - made up of producer Johan Agebjorn and an anonymous vocalist - return with their latest studio album, Ready to Live a Lie, sounding as polished and pop-centric as ever. Based in Lund, the pair have spent nearly two decades refining their blend of italo disco and synthpop, and this new record sees them lean into a more melancholic palette. On Ready to Live a Lie, heartbreak and emotional detachment drift across sparkling synths and crisp drum machines, the mysterious singer's delicate, distant delivery casting a quietly seductive spell. Where earlier releases danced with romance and euphoria, this album explores loneliness and the fallout of broken love. Still, there's something upbeat and whimsical in the way these feelings are framed, striking a full-spectrum emotional chord.

Review: Sally Shapiro are actually a duo, and the name is actually a pseudonym. Besides, they are essentially in the business of blowing every other synthpop act out of the park by this point. Packed with emotion and swelling refrains, 'Sad Cities' is a universal lamentation for failed metropoli the world over. Opener 'Forget About You' sets the tone for the pair's home-recorded masterpiece, on which the lead singer's voice takes raspy centre stage. Regret seems to be the central theme, peronalising our collective suffering: