Gasfire - Is Our Life

I got into an Italo kick a few years back. Along the way my hunger was fed in little bites by the likes of the incredible 'Ago' and 'Tom Hooker' but, the pieces of real heat were few and far between. In every web posting, sound sample or needle drop the amount of crap I had to endure was massive. Most of the tracks to me where utter garbage. It made my research almost un-bearable. But, that one in 100th tune was simply new, unusual, and different on every level to me. Many of those rare finds were strangely funky. Italo combines so many great elements and was influenced by many different worlds.

The freshest part about Italo is it joins nu-wave, disco, and soul into one world. For example, during the same time in America nu-wave and R&B were worlds apart. Italians took these different influences and molded them together. The limits and parameters simply just didn't exist over there like they did here. Not to mention the huge, massive in fact, influence through the popular use of synthesisers. They pioneered that shit big time. Thank goodness for the Italians and their modified disco.

This particular catch by Gasfire only further proves this point. These cats are in converse shoes, performing on the street, and even have skateboards. Awesome. This song is like a hybrid of funk-punk, new wave and disco, all topped off with poorly pronounced English lyrics. That's a major appeal to Italo as well...hearing lyrics pronounced as only Italians can do it.
The synths and echo on the vocals make this a tasty cosmic offering as well. The best part of this is the breakdowns later in the song. All the different kooky sounds they mix up into it, All held together by this killer bass romp. I'm really hard pressed to think of a group that remotely sounds anything like them. Complete with fat synth bass and a mini sax solo. I bet you were wondering when that guy was gonna come in. Classic Italo genius and this is what going through a million horrible records is all about.
The tune chugs along morphing a few times breaking down into interesting little bits. Man, seriously! Take a listen to those sweet bridges with the sweeps! Freak-art-disco for sure. Kinda all over the place and plenty rewarding in a few different genres. Both sides of this unknown groups twelve inch are pretty good. I'll 'up' the other one at some time too. But, for now just enjoy the poor grammar that is "Is Our Life"....

Gasfire - Is Our Life

Yello - Bimbo

A went foraging into vinyl the other night, and turned this tune up again. I had met with Yello's music many years ago. Someone gave me a tape with Yello on it, and with a hit of acid I was changed forever. Deep into a future of electro and the bizarre I went. I think Kraftwerk gets a lot of credit for shaping modern electro music, but lesser bands like Yello played important roles as well. They frankly deserve more than just being the band with the Ferris Bueller claim to fame. That tape that rocked my world, welcomed me into the future, and had in it a dark and soulful world of electronic music. Entire LP's layered with synth and drum machines were hardly organic, but still unveiled worlds of possibility for me. Yello are a unique band of freaks and their music is unlike most bands I'd ever heard.
Still this group trips me up with how silly and strange they are.

I picked up this 45 the other night at the opening of Vamp: A music art & consignment shop. My friend Fernando has opened this spot and it has a LOT of potential. He's going to work to get a good supply of vinyl in there. I went to the pre-opening sale and found fairly tasty goodies. A lot of great r&b and soul 45's, plenty good re-issues, loads of mod related stuff, and a few punk, art-disco, and power pop things. That's where Yello came in..right between English Beat 45's and UK Punk classics.
Check out VAMP
at 547 Athol St. in Oakland, CA
You may want to call first. I'm not sure of the hours and I don't have the digits.
legwork. do it.

This cut is an excellent example of Yello's fury. Deep demonic voices, Sid Vicious sounding shouts, and a killer array of huge synths. The whole thing changes throughout the tune, and goes simply without classification. On Ralph records, home of other fantastic 'out' artists like Fred Frith, The Residents and Tuxedo Moon. Overall an impressive catalog and an impressive first 7 inch from Yello in 1980.

Yello - Bimbo