Mondo Groove Italy Vinilo y CD

Review: Nigerian disco-boogie act Galaxy's sole, self-titled album has become a holy grail for Afro-boogie collectors over the last few years, so it's no surprise to see Italian crate diggers Mondo Groove giving it the reissue treatment. It was produced by Jake Sollo - one of Nigeria's premier funk and soul musicians of the '70s and '80s - and recorded in the UK, though it was originally only ever released in his home country. Full of killer grooves (Randy Taylor's bass playing stands out), spacey synths and group vocals from the trio known as the 'Galaxy Girls', the set is packed with highlights. Our picks include a sublime, slow-motion reggae-boogie cover of the Police's 'The Bed's Too Big Without You', the intergalactic, club-ready brilliance of 'Galaxy' and the unbridled, life-affirming sweetness of 'Next To You'.

Review: Riccardo Cioni's 'Fog' has been passed over to a fine selection of artists for this new remix EP on Mondo Groove. The original is a stone-cold 1984 Italo classic that is dark and obscure and was made in Cioni's garage studio on a PPG Wave 2.2, Linn 9000 and Phophet 5. First to rework it is the legendary Morgan Geist who layers the snappy drums and ricocheting synths, while Tiger & Woods get more playful with some unhinged synth effects and chopped-up vocals. NOIA keeps it raw with some nice analogue electro-disco goodness and Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi team up for a loose limbed and stripped-back rhythm with funky bass riffs.

Review: Alkemy's Come On EP, released on Mondo Groove from Italy, delivers a captivating blend of deep house with influences of Balearic and Italo house. Side-1 features the original version boasting a mid-tempo groove with a nostalgic 90s vibe and rich melodies. In contrast, the DJ Ralf remix injects a more upbeat and techno-infused energy, offering a futuristic twist to the original track. On Side-2, 'Cloud' presents a melodic and deeper journey into the realms of deep house, maintaining a danceable rhythm while delving into more introspective sonic territories. Meanwhile the GNMR Reworked version takes a leap into the future with its proto-techno sound and deep synth vibes, offering a refreshing and unique perspective .Alkemy's Come On EP demonstrates the artist's versatility and innovation within the deep house genre, providing listeners with four examples of quality dance music.

Review: Moana Pozzi was primarily a pornographic actor, but during the 1980s and early 90s also notched up a number of club and crossover hits in her native Italy. This 12" from Mondo Groove brings together her three most sought-after cuts, adding in an extra unreleased treat in the shape of 'Bonita', a breezy-and-sleazy house-not-house number of the Balearic kind that was apparently a firm favourite in her 'spicy' live shows. Perhaps the best known of the included classic cuts is 'Supermacho (Extended)', where Pozzi's sleazy and dead-eyed vocals rise above a throbbing Italo-disco groove and chiming melodies. Elsewhere, 'Impulso Di Sesso' is a more dubbed-out and dreamy chunk of eccentric Italo-disco, while 'Let's Dance' is a synth-sporting, Madonna-influenced synth-pop treat.

Review: Riccardo Cioni is well-known as a mastermind behind early Italo disco, coming up in the Florentine disco scene with his troupe, Bella Band. His later solo outings, first made on the cusp of the 1980s, marked a more electronic shift, and 'Darkness Inside' is a strong example of his best work from that time. First released in '84, the three tracks on this early nu-disco heater cement Cioni's chops as a deft, swift and talented producer, with vocoded jams such as 'Go Break' and city slap-bassers like the title track locking in something timelessly futurologic. It could only ever have been a product of its time, though; these are three serene, yet hard-hitting, proto-nu-disco bangers.