“Everything comes back 20 years later. We are living in a post modern world.” (Alexander Robotnick, Time Out, 24th March 2004)
Alexander Robotnick is the Italo-disco alter ego of one Maurizio Dami, a cult musician from the early 80s who has recently been enjoying a bit of a revival thanks to the homage paid to him by some of todays more cutting edge DJs and artists. Dance Boy Dance featured on Miss Kittens mix CD for Radio Caroline and his track ‘Problèmes d’Amour’ has appeared on several uber cool comps (Disco Or Not Disco and The Disco-Tech of DJ Cosmo ) His highly acclaimed productions set the blueprint for electro twenty years ago but soon after his success he effectively disappeared, devoting his time to composing soundtracks and working with obscure musicians from Africa and Asia.
Fast forward to 04 and Robotnick returns, replete with a live act/ DJ set, some new tracks and this- a 21 track mix from esteemed French label Yellow Productions which does a delicious job of bridging the gap between the old and the new. Those of us who remember John Foxx the first time round cant help being warmed by the inclusion of Underpass and a slightly pitched up version of Visages classic Fade to Grey sandwiched as they are between the likes of Tiga and the Hacker, natural successors to the camp glammery of the New Romantics.
Standout tracks from Bangkok Impact, FPU and Miss Kitten mix with timeless wonders from New Order, Yello and Tom Tom Club with elements of one track returning later on to enhance another later in the mix.
“My selection wishes to highlight the continuity of feelings and intentions that links up artists from the 80′s with artists from today’s electronic music rather than demonstrating how this latter originated twenty years ago – which is only partly true.
His ‘Problemes D’Amour’ was a substantial hit in the underground clubs of New York at the time so his return is a a fitting one. ‘The Disco-Tech of Alexander Robotnick’ is released on May 24th
(CM)
TRACKLIST
1. Alexander Robotnick’s introrn2. Yello – I Love Yourn3. Tom Tom Club – Wordy Rappinghoodrn4. New Order – Bizarre Love Trianglern5. ‘Lectric Workers – Robot is Systematicrn6. Scotch – Pinguin Invasionrn7. Untitledrn8. Mekon feat. Marc Almond – Please Stayrn9. Visage – Fade to Grayrn10. Casco – Cybernetic Lovern11. Charlie – Spacer Womanrn12. Alexander Robotnick, The Hacker & Kiko – Viens Chez Moirn13. FPU – You don’t pay my billsrn14. J Foxx – Underpassrn15. Memory Boy – (There Is No) Electricityrn16. New York City Survivors – The Gamern17. Miss Kittin & The Hacker – Frank Sinatrarn18. FPU – Ocean Drive (Tiga´s White Linen Vox)rn19. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Enola Gayrn20. Bangkok Impact – Travellerrn21. A.Robotnick – Les Grands Voyages de l’Amour
