Kano or Kano

I think international trademark laws say that you can keep an artist or band name for up to 20 years (depending on when it was registered… it’s only 10 years if you registered the trademark later than 1989). Whatever, it’s complicated.

Kano is known for Italo talk box bangers while Kano, formerly of the N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, reps London town.

It’s not surprising that the first Kano is so heavily sampled. It’s all just brilliant stuff. I think the band had some sort of flux capacitor. Check out 1980s ‘I’m Ready’ and 1983s ‘Another Life’.

Kano – I’m Ready

Kano – Another Life

Kano the MC just released his third album since 2005 titled 140 Grime St (buy it HERE). The production on this single here sounds a bit Southern like T.I.‘s joints, no?

Kano – Hustler

ps. Yeah that’s an LP ghetto blaster… it can play either side of the record without having to flip it. So it plays upright and there are two tone arms built in to the thing. Wow.

8 bit – Italo

There are two tracks that I definitely need to hear. These will give some serious damage to dancefloors – I tell you!

8 Swedish nerds that love to be nerds and know everything about all the vocoders/synthesizers/nintendo wii’s in the world. YES!

Slagsmaalsklubben – Sponsored By Destiny

And a Norwegian guy who believes in free electronic music for everyone. YES!

Binärpilot – Tokyomatrix 3000

I gotta say: ENJOY!

Hello Italo..

photo via dtybywl

Italo Disco features the joys/pitfalls of disco along with some extra glam and a few different/obvious european accents sprinkled in here and there. For what seems like forever, I have been finding myself on youtube watching the most basic and oft strangest vids where rare and old italo records are played alongside pics of old record jackets and usually random photos of office buildings, footage of the movie “Mannequin”, etc../et al. i suggest you try it sometime. it’s pretty rad, plus it’s the best way to find the true italo gems out there and there are many Italo gems out there. Here are a few:

First off here’s Casco’s (aka. Salvatore Cusato) opus originally released in 1983 (Italy). Amazing.

Casco – Cybernetic Love

Former front man- Stefano- recently appeared on the Italian version of celebrity survivor, thus confirming the power (emotional) and reach of the Den Harrow project will never really end. This was originally featured on the group’s 1985 Overpower Album (Italy).

Den Harrow – Charleston

Although not Italian or released in the classical Italo era, Stockholm’s Tropical Silence has created a choice Italo cut with “Flod”. Check out the Tropical Silence myspace here for some more free tracks.

Tropical Silence – Flod

italians do it better

some great ‘italo’ disco/house tracks for you mi amor..

G.A.N.G. – KKK

Brian Auger – Night Train To Nowhere

Ti Amo,

Mario, Alfredo, Roberto, Giorgio, Orazio and Tiziano