AZOTO Vinilo y CD

Review: 'San Salvador' is by far and away the most celebrated track by Celso Valli's studio-only disco band, Azoto. A driving, heavily orchestrated chunk of grandiose disco heaviness with a touch of Latin swing, percussion aplenty, swirling strings and righteous horns, it's been an 'instant party starter' since it first appeared at the turn of the 80s. This reissue boasts both of Valli's original mixes - the hands-aloft, vocal-sporting original mix and the piano stab-powered instrumental take - as well as two contemporary tweaks. There's the 'Vocal Club Mix', a filter-sporting disco-house take that replaces some of the vocal with a new female lead, and the French Touch-esque remix by Belgians Natural Born Grooves aka Bert Boon & Jaco van Rijswijk. House DJs will appreciate these revisions, though it's Valli's original mixes that still hit home hardest.

Review: Many of you may be familiar with "San Sebastian", the 1979 Mediterranean disco slammer that was by far and away the biggest dancefloor hit for Celso Valli's Azoto project. Less well known is the album that it was taken from, Disco Fizz, which here gets a fresh vinyl reissue courtesy of the diggers at Mondo Groove. In some ways, it's typical of Italian disco of the period, taking cues from both electronic European disco (think Giorgio Moroder, Gino Soccio etc.), the hybrid synth-disco/orchestral disco of Rinder and Lewis (see bonkers but brilliant closer "Exalt-Exalt") and driving U.S disco anthems (the previously mentioned "Sal Salvador"). Intrestingly, opener "Fire Fly" sounds like a blueprint for later synth-pop influenced Italo-disco records.

Review: Vedette introduces a superb sounding reissue of Azoto's 1981 Italo Disco masterpiece 'San Salvador'. Originally released back in '81 on Italy's tiny Vedette Records, this monster track with its slamming Latin groove, killer bass, uplifting vocals and house-style piano never fails to ignite the dancefloor. Nearly thirty years after its original release, it still receives heavy rotation by any of the top disco jocks lucky enough to have a copy. Produced by italo innovator Celso Valli, the man responsible for Macho, Passengers and Tantra to name but a few. Also featuring the highly sought-after instrumental version, this classic is a must for all fans of good time party music. First Class!