London’s Retro/Grade are to release their new Mindfighter EP at the end of the month. It marks the first of three EPs they’ll be releasing this year, which together will form the duo’s debut album. If you’re not already familiar with Retro/Grade, it’s the side-project of Tom Neville and Serge Santiago, two world renowned producers at the top of their game. With new single ‘Mindfighter’, Retro/Grade have delivered a heavy-hitting piece of italo-disco, the video of which you can stream below. Stay tuned for the full release and concluding album, but in the meantime check out the new vid and be sure to cop the mellower Maxxi Soundsystem remix, which I’m feeling a lot at the moment:

Retro/Grade – Mindfighter (Maxxi Soundsystem Warehouse Mix) by Retro/Grade
Sweet FA

..is on the cards – check out this new album sampler
Retro/Grade “Motion” Album Sampler by Retro/Grade

There’s three new songs in the sampler; Mindfighter, Lost and Reset

Tracklist:
01 – MINDFIGHTER
02 – MODA
03 – LOST
04 – RESET
05 – ESCAPE SEQUENCE

Very exciting for fans of Serge and Tom.. ie: myself and any other sensible human

-Mandu

Ahem… most underrated release of November? My guess is Etienne De Crecys ‘No Brain’ ep faux-sure.

The original surges high and low in deep cut techno semblance in true French style and also hosts a number of reputable remixes all varying in character and motive.

Along with Turbo’s Tai, the Netherlands Nobody Beats the Drum and some Disco Villians the Munk and Serge Santiago remixes are true calling cards offering some lush percussion and down tempo cadence.

Etienne de Crécy – No Brain (Munk Remix) 192

Etienne de Crécy – No Brain (Serge Santiago Remix) 192

Go buy the full thing here.

Ubbs

Retro/Grade is made up of Serge Santiago and Tom Neville, two great kings in the music industry. Since 2005, Santiago and Neville have been slowly developing and cooking up of what is to be described as a “career-defining album”. Their inspiration is taken from a period between disco and house (basically their sound is like the modern day Italo-Disco). Retro/Grade’s newest single “Zoid” contains an emotion that constantly builds and builds, quite epic. This will be released in November on vinyl only; look out for it at Juno. This track samples Automat’s “Droid”, a classic 1978 Italo track.
MP3: Retro/Grade - Zoid (12″ Mix)
And as promised, the sample lifted from “Zoid” (which is the Cecile Edit):
MP3: Automat - Droid (Cecile Edit)

Retro/Grade also released a huge relived italo-banging dancefloor track prior to Zoid titled “Moda”, which samples Amin-Peck’s “Coda”. This release has received support from the likes of Erol Alkan, Simian Mobile Disco, A-Trak, Riton, etc.etc. Buy the Moda vinyl at Juno.
MP3: Retro/Grade - Moda
And the sample:
MP3: Amin-Peck - Coda

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Just on another note, a huge huge banger for 2009 was Erol Alkan & Boys Noize’s “Waves” - such a killer track. Not really falling under this Italo post is this next track but however, it does sample an Italo track! - and also an oldie. The main tune is sampled from Albion’s (Albion Venables) ”Space Time Continuum”, which was released on the Ambassador’s Reception label. The dinstinctive drums is sampled from Sparks‘ “Beat the Clock”. Waves was out on Boys Noize Recs.
MP3: Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Waves
MP3: Albion - Space Time Continuum
MP3: Sparks - Beat the Clock (Long Remix)

Retro/Grade is made up of Serge Santiago and Tom Neville, two great kings in the music industry. Since 2005, Santiago and Neville have been slowly developing and cooking up of what is to be described as a “career-defining album”. Their inspiration is taken from a period between disco and house (basically their sound is like the modern day Italo-Disco). Retro/Grade’s newest single “Zoid” contains an emotion that constantly builds and builds, quite epic. This will be released in November on vinyl only; look out for it at Juno. This track samples Automat’s “Droid”, a classic 1978 Italo track.

Retro/Grade – Zoid (12″ Mix) [Sorry folks, stream only]

And as promised, the sample lifted from “Zoid” (which is the Cecile Edit):
MP3: Automat – Droid (Cecile Edit)

EDIT: How could I forget Creative Use’s “Are You Jeff Vader” edit??:
MP3: Creative Use – Are You Jeff Vader?

Retro/Grade also released a huge relived italo-banging dancefloor track prior to Zoid titled “Moda”, which samples Amin-Peck’s “Coda”. This release has received support from the likes of Erol Alkan, Simian Mobile Disco, A-Trak, Riton, etc.etc. Buy the Moda vinyl at Juno.
MP3: Retro/Grade – Moda
And the sample:
MP3: Amin-Peck – Coda

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Just on another note, a huge huge banger for 2009 was Erol Alkan & Boys Noize’s “Waves” – such a killer track. Not really falling under this Italo post is this next track but however, it does sample an Italo track! – and also an oldie. The main tune is sampled from Albion’s (Albion Venables) ”Space Time Continuum”, which was released on the Ambassador’s Reception label. The dinstinctive drums is sampled from Sparks‘ “Beat the Clock”. Waves was out on Boys Noize Recs.
MP3: Erol Alkan & Boys Noize – Waves
MP3: Albion – Space Time Continuum
MP3: Sparks – Beat the Clock (Long Remix)

Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars (Kris Menace Remix)
Metronomy – Heartbreaker (Kris Menace Remix)
Kris Menace – Metropolis (Joe And Will Ask? Remix)
Kris Menace – Metropolis (Serge Santiago Italo Boot Edit)

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UPDATE: Here’s the mp3.

Retro/Grade – Zoid (12 Inch Mix) (YSI)

Retro/Grade – Zoid (12 Inch Mix) (zShare)

/ / / / / / / / CFCF / / / / / / / /
Montreal-based DJ Michael Silver (aka CFCF) has announced the release of his first full-length debut album “Continent”on Paper Bag Records released October 27th.

Tracklist:
01 Raining Patterns
02 Big Love
03 Invitation to Love
04 Summerlong
05 You Hear Colours
06 Monolith
07 Half Dreaming
08 Letters Home
09 Break-In
10 Come Closer
11 Snake Charmer
12 Half Dreaming Reprise

CFCF’s career took off when he won the remix competition of Crystal Castles “Air War” and as a result, Sally Shapiro, The Presets, HEALTH, The Teenagers and Hearts Revolution, et. al. remixes have followed suit. Digital single “The Explorers”, with a version featuring Sally Shapiro, a remix by Woodhands and “Just Hold Hands”, a previously unreleased track will be released very very soon.

My favourite is this Fleetwood Mac cover…

MP3: CFCF – Big Love

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/ / / / / / / / DEN HAAN / / / / / / / /
Having established themselves as firm favorites of Glasgow’s long-running club Optimo (Espacio), as well as successfully working up a sweat at Fabric and Disco Bloodbath, DEN HAAN (Matthew Aldworth & Andrew Gardiner) are back with the third instalment in their electrifying macho-disco ouvre. The Courier of Death releases “Heist”, the third single from DEN HAAN in late November. It is also the debut single from The Courier of Death, the new label run by DEN HAAN themselves. They have already released The Courier of Death – The Original Soundtrack (from the ultimate B-movie, originally released in 1984) and now adopt the same name for their label.

MP3: Den Haan – Heist
MP3: Den Haan – Russian Boat Commander

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/ / / / / / / / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO / / / / / / / /
Greg Wilson and Maurice Fulton are my picks from the remixes of Simian Mobile Disco’s latest single “Cruel Intentions”, which features Beth Ditto from The Gossip.

MP3: Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (Greg Wilson Re-Edit)
MP3: Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (Maurice Fulton Remix)

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/ / / / / / / / BOGDAN IRKUK / / / / / / / /
From Wikipedia: Bogdan Irkük a.k.a. BULGARI (Богдан Иркук а.к.а. БУЛГАРИ) is a Bulgarian musician/producer/DJ. He has previously performed under the name BULGARI. Bogdan Irkük was born 1971 in Sofia, Bulgaria. His mother is of Hutsul ancestry. He grew up listening to the music of his brother’s friend’s pirate radio station, where he learned to appreciate Chic, Chaka Khan, Zapp, Stevie Wonder and Electric Light Orchestra. He started releasing material after meeting the Rollerboys at a DJ gig in Munich.

MP3: Al Usher – Lullaby for Robert (Bogdan Irkük Remix)
MP3: Sally Shiparo – Miracle (Bogdan Irkük Remix)

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/ / / / / / / / MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS / / / / / / / /
Press Release: Following the release of their debut album, Dystopia, Midnight Juggernauts shift the focus to album number two with the release of their new single ‘This New Technology’. An epic journey through time, space and the eternal afterlife, ‘This New Technology’ is packed with dark driving tom rhythms filtered through lush pop synth-scapes, while the vocals are more aggressive than they’ve ever been before. Produced by Midnight Juggernauts, the track was recorded at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios by Christopher Moore (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Liars) and mixed by Andy Baldwin. Its release coincides with a national headline tour by Midnight Juggernauts across Australia, and appearances at the CMJ Music Festival in New York during October including a headline performance at the URB party.

This New Technology’ will be available through iTunes on 9th October along with inspired remixes by artists including Nile Delta (Australia), Emperor Machine (UK) and Weird Tapes (USA). Following the digital release the single will see a limited edition 7″ release on Acéphale Records (SALEM, Air France, Memory Tapes) and is available for pre-order.

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts – This New Technology (Nile Delta Remix)
MP3: Midnight Juggernauts – This New Technology (Memory Tapes Remix)

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/ / / / / / / / DAS GLOW / / / / / / / /
Part of the 2006 new wave of Institubes artists, along with Surkin and Bobmo. Das Glow produces serious electronic music, which tends to represents Institubes’ vision of minimal techno. His new release “Lite Brite Remixes” just dropped, out on Institubes featuring remixes from Strip Steve and Qebrus. I’ve supplied the b-side and I’ve also put up his great track that was out on Vulture Records titled “I Want to Wake Up With You”.

MP3: Das Glow – A Lighter Shade of Bright
MP3: Das Glow – I Want to Wake Up With You

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/ / / / / / / / VILLA / / / / / / / /
“In 1982 I was on holiday at Lago di Como – Italy. Its there where i met Beba – who was a local artist – working as a barkeeper. First time i saw him he was sitting on the shore of the lake singing on some chords on his guitar. I still remember the melody of that moment. it was Gold…

One thing let to another and he joined me to Ibiza to start working with me. I had a little bar close to Ibiza village where i was dj-ing and doing live percussions on live shows. Beba added vocals and guitar harmonies to this so we had a band. That is where it all started…”

Mindless Boogie is a great psychdisco edit label which recently celebrated their 20th release by giving it away for free, containing edits done by Villa of their favorite diva’s Anita Meyer, Agnetha Fältskog and Tina Turner.

Also, Villa recently mixed the latest Eskimo ‘Cosmic Balearic Beats Vol. 2′ compilation which you can purchase right here.

MP3: Villa – Agneta (Villa Edit)
MP3: The Golden Filter – Thunderbird (Villa Remix)

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/ / / / / / / / SERGE SANTIAGO / / / / / / / /
What a man… Serge is quite wise about everything Italo. He was in Radio Slave and has done a huge array or remixes/edits/etc.etc.. Has his own record label Arcobaleno and now just recently has teamed up with fellow producer Tom Neville – thus, Retro/Grade is born – expect a post on this very soon.

MP3: Goblin – Tenebre (SSUK-Edit)
MP3: Hypnosis – Pulstar (Edit)
MP3: Kasper Bjorke – Young Again (Serge Santiago Italo Boot Remix)

This amazing track has been hyped up aplenty and it’s already been playlisted by the likes of Erol Alkan, Riton, Trevor Jackson, SMD, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, A-Trak, Boys Noize. Pretty much everyone has been holding their breaths waiting for this dancefloor destroyer from Retro/Grade (ie Serge Santiago and Tom Neville) to drop. “Moda” sees them pair up retro italo disco (those synths are to die for) with more modern electro sounds and it’s a winner. An album is anticipated for a 2010 release. (Thanks to Rebel Butterfly)

Retro/Grade – Moda (YSI)

Retro/Grade – Moda (Sharebee)

London producer Serge Santiago has been releasing Italodisco edits since 2005 on his own label Arcobaleno (means “Rainbow” in Italian and each release has a different colour. His first release was his own “Atto D’Amore” EP, From there on, coloured vinyl re-edits followed with a bunch of Italo artists including Roxy Music, Grace Jones, Baciotti, Goblin’s “Tenebre”, Thai Break’s “Flowers in The Rain” and Droids “The Force”. He also remixes for Hercules And Love Affair, Shit Robot, Goldfrapp, Cagedbaby, Kris Menace, Caspa, Simian Mobile Disco and more.

“What they did in those days blows me away at times… It’s a different kind of energy, makes you dance in a different way…I like its originality; Italo being the first to use synths in this way makes it more interesting to me, as I know it hasn’t been sampled or re-hashed. It’s the way it is.”

Here’s one of his original tracks “Running Passions” and an edit of the My Mine “Hypnotic Tango which truly is hypnotic, now get dancing!

Serge Santiago – Running Passions (Sharebee)

My Mine – Hypnotic Tango (Serge Santiago edit) (Sharebee)