Mad Matrix- Men Alone 7''

Here's a classic disco cut for fans of the genre. Belgian disco with italo leanings, released in 1985. Naturally, several versions of the a-side track exist. The 7'' edit is present here, alongside an exclusive b-side not on any of the other singles. For those who can't get enough of this jam, you can get the 12'' extended mix (special club version) by clicking here. Beware the downtuned synth lines! Definitely a killer track in any incarnation.



Mad Matrix- Men Alone 7''
1. Men Alone
2. We Are Mad Matrix

*download it here*

and again, nab the Special Club Version of the track here!

Richard Bone- The Real Swing 12''

Here's a classic early Richard Bone 12'' for your listening pleasure. Born in 1952, Bone is considered an influential figure in the New York music scene in the early 1980s, a huge pioneer of electronic music. He began exploring the early art of the synthesizer, driven by the works of Brian Eno and Harold Budd, before moving into more poppier territory. He was also a member of experimental electronic band Shox Lumania in 1981.

A good portion of Richard's early singles were on Survival Records, the same label that brought you Drinking Electricty, Faith Global, Hard Corps, and Play, to name a few.

Though he ceased to make pop records as of the 1990s, he still creates ambient music to this day. This particular 12'' hails from 1984, just a few years into his solo career. Here's the information.



Richard Bone- The Real Swing 12''
1. The Real Swing (Extended 12" Re-Mix)
2. The Real Swing (7" Edit)
3. Heartache History

*download it here*

Sequins and Spandex Parts IV and V

Struck with the disco bug again, ladies and gentlemen, and what better way to celebrate the onslaught of summer than with a handful of killer jams. I know a lot of you enjoy this series of mixes, so to make up for its absence, I've constructed TWO full discs worth of classic space disco/italo/hi nrg etc. cuts for your listening pleasure. These are some of my all time favorite tracks these days, so I do hope you enjoy! Here's the breakdown:



Sequins and Spandex: Part IV
1. Fog- Riccardo Cioni
2. Dark Silence- Art Fine
3. Domination- Flexi Cowboys
4. Spanish Run- Jaco
5. Valerie- Modem
6. My Love Won't Let You Down- Nathalie
7. A Flash in the Night- Secret Service
8. N. 1,4/Magnetic Dance- Smiles
9. Driving- Sensitive
10. New Dream- Clay Pedrini
11. Eagles In the Night- Dario Dell'Aere
12. Heroes- Big Ben Tribe
13. Some Other Place, Some Other Time- Rockets

*download it here*



Sequins and Spandex: Part V
1. Let's Dance Tonight- David Gray
2. I'm Looking For You- Ghibli
3. Escape From New York- John Carpenter
4. An English '93- International Music System
5. Breakdown- Ray Cooper
6. Love's Harmony- Paciscopi
7. Love & Magic (Dub Version)- Kristal
8. Secret Life- Clock On 5
9. Silent Smiles- Anthony's Game
10. Future State- Future State
11. Main Theme (Remix)- Fabio Frizzi
12. Burn On the Flames- Paul Paul
13. Avventurieri- Jo Squillo Eletrix

*download it here*

Hope you kids enjoy! To download the previous installments, click here and here.

The Puppets- The Way of Life 12''

Here's a pretty killer dance/disco 12'', released in 1983. The Puppets were a New York/Long Island based dance group, who earned quite a bit of airplay from their lone 12'' single. The 12'' was released on Quality Records, a Canadian label, and came with generic brown sleeve. You can still find this one kicking around certain record stores if you have the patience to sift through coverless singles. Worth the time!

Rumor has it that The Puppets disbanded while recording a follow up full-length. Would love to hear any unreleased material!

Here's the breakdown for the single:



The Puppets- The Way of Life 12''
1. The Way of Life (Dance Mix)
2. The Way of Life (Vocal)
3. The Way of Life (Instrumental)

*download it here*

On a separate note, I've re-ripped the first Choir Invisible album, as I've found a second, and far less scratched copy. If you dug it before, check it out again, cleaner and brighter!

Trans-X- Living on Video CD

Trans-X were a two piece disco/synth outfit from Canada, who made quite the name for themselves in their home country with a handful of catchy electro-pop singles. Laurie Ann Gill (formerly a backup vocalist for Nudimension) and ambient musician Pascal Languirand comprised the duo for their first (and most prolific) run, which concluded in 1986 due to frustrations and lack of success outside of Canada.

Languirand returned in 1994 with a revamped version of the band, reissuing and re-recording several key singles with new vocalist Nadia Sohaei. As of 2010, Languirand has been living in Mexico, hard at work on the next Trans-X release.

Without any further ado, here's the information for the band's Living on Video LP, released in 1983. A compilation of sorts, the LP collected many of the band's earliest singles and b-sides. This particular rip hails from the CD issue, which dropped ten years later and featured a handful of appropriate bonus tracks. Here's the details:



Trans-X- Living on Video CD
1. Living On Video
2. Message On The Radio
3. Nitelife
4. 21st Century
5. Josee
6. Digital World
7. Eyes Of Desire
8. 3D-Dance
9. Monkey Dance
10. Through The Eyes Of The 90's
11. Ich Liebe Dich (I Love You)
12. Living On Video (Re-Recorded)
13. Message On The Radio (Remix)
14. Vivre Sur Video

*download it here*

For your viewing pleasure, here's the video for the title track, released in 1981:

Body Electric- Magic Electronic 7''

Secondly, here's a rare 1984 7'' by Body Electronic, which is essentially another name for Steen Gjerulff. You can expect classic disco sounds here- pounding percussion, bright synths, and of course, copious amounts of vocoder. A real gem!



Body Electric- Magic Electronic 7''
1. Magic Electronic
2. 5595

*download it here*

Sequins and Spandex: Parte Tre

Since it's been a regrettably long time since I've made one of these, I am pleased to unveil the latest addition to the Sequins and Spandex series. Unlike the previous installments, which featured a few modern cuts inspired by the original classics, the third in this series of italo, space disco, and hi-nrg dance traxx contains fourteen original tracks, dating from 1980-1987.

I had enough leftovers to make part four (and hell, maybe even a part five) in a few weeks time, so stay tuned! Otherwise, without any further ado, here's the tracklisting:



Sequins and Spandex: Parte Tre
1. Cybernetic Love- Casco
2. The World at Your Disposal- La Grotta
3. When I Let You Down- M & G
4. Bad Passion- Steel Mind
5. Telephone Computer- Crazy Gang
6. Never Ever- Peppermint Lounge
7. Love is Like a Game- Hot Cold
8. 'Cause I Need You, 'Cause I Love You- De De Mo
9. Voyage, Voyage- Desireless
10. Disco Band (Vocal)- Scotch
11. Young Men (Special Radio Version)- Nite Lite
12. Body Heat- Fockewulf 190
13. My Frames- Amin Peck
14. I Wanna Fly Away- Blue Russell

*download it here*

If you're new to the blog or missed the first two editions of Sequins and Spandex, click HERE to nab 'em!



NOTE: If you downloaded this earlier today (10am or so, EST), redownload this version, with a corrected version of the Amin Peck track, courtesy of Veronica!

Sequins and Spandex (parts 1 & 2)

Here's a slight deviation from the standard Systems of Romance fare to end the weekend. Though it's a mere stone's throw away from minimal wave as it is, my interest in Italo and Space Disco has been on the rise over the past six or seven months, and has culminated in two mixes of classic tracks both old and new. I created the first Sequins and Spandex collection in November of '08 (and forgot to post it here during the blog's forced downtime). Otherwise, I just finished the second mix last night, and am pleased to offer them both for your listening pleasure. The first is a little more glitzy and polished, while the second is a little more gritty. Here's all the info:



Sequins and Spandex: An Introductory Disco Compilation
1. Friday Nights- Diamond Vampires
2. Hands in the Dark- Chromatics
3. Destiny- Vivien Vee
4. Veronica's Veil- Fan Death
5. Digitally- Plastic Mode
6. Esc Hatch- Mount Sims
7. Pillow Talk- Lustt
8. Lady Operator- Mirage
9. 1991- Crystal Castles
10. Beatific- Glass Candy
11. No Regrets- Black Devil
12. Automatic Amore- Patriza Pellegrino
13. I'm an Indian Too- Don Armando's 2nd ave. Rhumba Band
14. How Do You Dance?- Telex
15. Speakerphone- Kylie Minogue
16. Movie Star- Roisin Murphy
17. The Night (Original Mix)- Valerie Dore
18. Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (Mirage Mix)- Indeep

*download it here



Sequins and Spandex 2: Electric Boogaloo
1. Spacer Woman- Charlie
2. Chase (Dub Version)- Sun La Shan
3. What Did He Say- Nite Jewel
4. Hide It- The Golden Filter
5. Somewhere in the Night (Extended)- Stereo
6. Main Theme From 'Christine'- John Carpenter
7. Moscow Discow (Single Version)- Telex
8. Ikeya Seki- Kano
9. Magic Fly- Ecama
10. You- Boytronic
11. Into the Night- Tobias Bernstrup
12. Pulstar- Hipnosis
13. Baseball Furies Chase- Barry de Vorzon
14. Polaris- Cyber People
15. La Nuite Blanche- Munich Machine
16. Don't Lose Control- Material
17. Flashing- Goblin

*download it here*

I hope to make a habit of these, so if you dig 'em, please speak up! Happy Friday, ladies and gents!

Sequins and Spandex (parts 1 & 2)

Here's a slight deviation from the standard Systems of Romance fare to end the weekend. Though it's a mere stone's throw away from minimal wave as it is, my interest in Italo and Space Disco has been on the rise over the past six or seven months, and has culminated in two mixes of classic tracks both old and new. I created the first Sequins and Spandex collection in November of '08 (and forgot to post it here during the blog's forced downtime). Otherwise, I just finished the second mix last night, and am pleased to offer them both for your listening pleasure. The first is a little more glitzy and polished, while the second is a little more gritty. Here's all the info:



Sequins and Spandex: An Introductory Disco Compilation
1. Friday Nights- Diamond Vampires
2. Hands in the Dark- Chromatics
3. Destiny- Vivien Vee
4. Veronica's Veil- Fan Death
5. Digitally- Plastic Mode
6. Esc Hatch- Mount Sims
7. Pillow Talk- Lustt
8. Lady Operator- Mirage
9. 1991- Crystal Castles
10. Beatific- Glass Candy
11. No Regrets- Black Devil
12. Automatic Amore- Patriza Pellegrino
13. I'm an Indian Too- Don Armando's 2nd ave. Rhumba Band
14. How Do You Dance?- Telex
15. Speakerphone- Kylie Minogue
16. Movie Star- Roisin Murphy
17. The Night (Original Mix)- Valerie Dore
18. Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (Mirage Mix)- Indeep

*download it here



Sequins and Spandex 2: Electric Boogaloo
1. Spacer Woman- Charlie
2. Chase (Dub Version)- Sun La Shan
3. What Did He Say- Nite Jewel
4. Hide It- The Golden Filter
5. Somewhere in the Night (Extended)- Stereo
6. Main Theme From 'Christine'- John Carpenter
7. Moscow Discow (Single Version)- Telex
8. Ikeya Seki- Kano
9. Magic Fly- Ecama
10. You- Boytronic
11. Into the Night- Tobias Bernstrup
12. Pulstar- Hipnosis
13. Baseball Furies Chase- Barry de Vorzon
14. Polaris- Cyber People
15. La Nuite Blanche- Munich Machine
16. Don't Lose Control- Material
17. Flashing- Goblin

*download it here*

I hope to make a habit of these, so if you dig 'em, please speak up! Happy Friday, ladies and gents!