ZYX Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: 49ers were the fivesome of Gianfranco Bortolotti, Luca Cittadini, Diego Leoni and Pieradis Rossini and vocalist Ann-Marie Smith and 1989's 'Touch Me' came as their second ever single after 'Die Walkure', which did comparatively less well in the charts. Ingenious of the association now often made between Italo house/disco and lewd sexuality, this was an early experiment in the style and came without vocals from Smith. Instead, it sampled Aretha Franklin's 'Rock-A-Lott' and Alisha Warren's 'Touch Me', producing a nebulously sexual sound, in which the samples songstresses are made to sound much... tenderer. For the more squeamish among us, there is of course an instrumental B-side.

Review: Larry Pignagnoli, Alessandro Zanni and Stefano Cundari created Brando, the quintessential short-lived Italo project. The first two singles from the group landed in 1983, one of which is now lovingly repressed by the original label, ZYX Music. As well as the vintage versions, we get treated to a couple of versions from the go-to remixer for tracks from this period, Flemming Dalum. It's released as a 40th anniversary piece commemorating this classic slice of sentimental, full-fat Italo, but with these new remixes there's plenty to appeal to die-hards and casual observers alike.

Review: One of legendary filmmaker John Carpenter's few forays into electro-disco proper, 'Die Klapperschlange' is an instant throwback, the title theme from the 1981 sci-fi film Escape From New York. Everyone knows this melody, yet few could point to its origin, and that's likely due to the German release of the John Carpenter film being titled 'Die Klapperschlange' ('The Rattlesnake'). And yes, you heard us right: John Carpenter himself made this piece of music. A multi-talented man indeed, though he did work with fellow composer and sound designer Alan Howarth to add the finishing touches here. It's as if this track were made for the anarcho-discos of the future, its inherent darkness rendering it seemingly unassailable by the crumbling of society or public breakouts of violence depicted in the film. Plus, there's *that* unmistakable four-bar extension, in which a three-note hook has permanently wedged itself in our minds - wowee. And on this new release via ZYX, we've got two new alt-mixes and an outrun techno remix from Nomoo. Sweet!

Review: Italian trio Colours shared only three singles with the world, and all were made in the hotbed period of 1985-86, when labels such as Discomagic monopolised the roost. 'Lonely Night' was their manifest magic trick; its poking, reverb-slurried lead is a slick staccato, upon which a lonesome vocal line by singer Mauro Santoro calls out into the night from the picture window. A kind of emo efflux is at play, where the 80s fascination with vulnerability is set to the brunt-borne, sublimated beat of the discotheque. Little is known about this band save for Santoro, making this a collectors item less concerned with band BTS or making-of shenanigans, and more the inherently appreciable shape of a sound.

Review: Hypnosis (more often than not written 'Hipnosis') enjoyed success in their native Italy in the early-to-mid 1980s, initially with club-focused Italo-disco interpretations of then contemporary cuts by fellow European synth-fanciers. Having debuted in 1983 with a cover of Vangelis's 'Pulstar', they followed it up by taking on Jean-Michel Jarre's global smash 'Oxygene'. Here it gets a deserved reissue, allowing a new generation to revel in its alluring mixture of arpeggio-style bass, rubbery bass guitar licks, cascading electronics, triple-time drums and electrofunk inspired translations of Jarre's famous, insatiably hooky melody. Also included is original B-side 'Borpaz', a deliciously spacey, delay-laden original composition that includes some seriously funky synth licks and a proper early morning groove.

Review: First released back in 1990, a year after Dutch producer Michael van der Kuy took ownership of the Koto project from its' Italian founders (a duo responsible for such Italo-disco classics as 'Japanese War Game' and 'Visitors'), 'Acknowledge' returns to stores in remastered and refreshed form. Side A sports two versions first showcased on the 90 12-inch: the throbbing, deep space Italo-disco-meets-hi-NRG cheeriness of the original extended mix (A1), and the slightly moodier, dancefloor dub style 'Knowledge Mix'. Turn to the flip and you'll find two new interpretations. First, 21st century Italo hero Flemming Dallum does a terrific job in making the record sound like it was made in 1984 -unsurprisingly, the analogue-sounding synths are particularly attractive - before DJ Con-T and Opposite Direction give it a house leaning Italodance tweak.

Review: Italian synthpop group Koto dropped their most seminal tune 'Jabdah' in 1986 and it has been a real dance floor classic ever since. Often coming out over the years with plenty of remixes (there have officially been 12 in all over) and versions as part of best of comps and whatever else, here it comes on a dedicated 12" picture disc with one extended version and one for DJs. It was the band's first single that charted and is still the sort of catchy and emotive tune that gets the dancefloor going and locked into its lush synth sounds and beguiling lyrics about space newspapers and waltzes.

Review: Reissue kings ZYX have nailed it again with this revisit of an Italo dance rarity from 1994. Martine's single is a fiery anthem of resilience and empowerment that blends sharp, infectious melodies with bold and defiant lyrics, all while showing Martine's dynamic vocal range and fierceness. It exudes confidence and is about channelling the strength to overcome challenges while embracing individuality and the production amplifies that with its slick melodies driven by punchy guitars and an anthemic rhythm that perfectly complements the song's empowering theme.

Review: Martinelli - presumably not the Brazilian one who plays in the midst of Arsenal's attack - has his classic disco gem 'Cenerentola (Cinderella)' reissued here by ZYX, a label that is well known and revered for doing just that. First up is served as an extended vocal mix that places the sentimental vocals front and centre with the sleazy sax lines also shine bight. Following the more direct Italo disco workout that is the instrumental comes a remix of the vocal that has a much more bright, tropical and steamy hot feel perfect for summer sessions and then last of all a remix of the instrumental that might be the perfect balance of everything.

Review: Back in the mid-90s, Rednex dropped their global smash 'Cotton Eye Joe' as part of their album Sex & Violins and it topped plenty of charts. It was also a school disco favourite that paired euro-dance beats with country melodies and redneck vocals as well as the very singable chorus. Now it comes with a series of edits, instrumentals and remixes by the likes of Madcow on this new 12" from the ZYX label who have pressed it up to limited orange vinyl. It is still silly but lots of fun so why not cop this ultimate edition.

Review: We find ourselves writing this a lot but this really is a top-tier Italo disco record that is as rare as an honest politician and way out on its own atop many people's want list. Wish Key was founded by Manlio Cangelli and their debut in 1983, 'Orient Express' quickly gained popularity and led to further releases like 'Easy Way' in 1984 and 'Life.' It's a track drowning in echo and reverb and 80s drum sounds with a nice-paced bassline and camp vocals. It comes in various versions here as well as with the signature Flemming Dalum for more club-friendly vibes