Casco ‘Cybernetic Love’ (House of Music) by DJ/producer Salvatore Cusato captures the vintage Italo year of 1983 with a perfect synthesis of romantic sci-fi lyrics, truly gorgeous vocal harmonies and a disco beat that will be danceable for centuries to come.

Mostly ignored in the same year was Crazy Gang ‘Every Sunday’ (Flexx), by the genius Claudio Simonetti of Goblin fame. However, the highly recommended and rare album We Are the Crazy Gang now has fabled status among cognoscenti for its extraordinary diversity and hauntingly beautiful music.

When Italo started enjoying international success in 1984 and 1985, many of the faceless producers and DJs needed frontpeople to cope with the demand for performances and would get gorgeous models to do playback. Den Harrow (an invention of master producers Chieregato and Turatti) is one of the most well-known examples of this – the name itself is an anglicised version of the Italian word for money, 'denaro'. As for the music, Den Harrow ‘Bad Boy’(Baby) is an epic masterpiece of composition and one of the most dramatic songs of the era.

Dyva ‘On Fire’ (Caldo mix) (Flashback) is a slow, brooding classic which must have sent chills down the spines of the two musicians when they were recording. Even the instrument list on the rear of the 12" sleeve tells you you're in for a treat: Linn Drum, Simmons Drum, Yamaha DX7, Moog Voyager, Oscar Synth.

Finally the highly collectable Video Club ‘Lost Time (Time Of War)’ (Magic Circus) is one of the lost gems of 1983. You can listen to its hauntingly beautiful melody and Rosella De Santis’ intriguing lyrics over and over.
[This song is sadly not available to stream online].

DJ Benetti plays Osmium at Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Glasgow, Fri 18 Oct.