Early support:
Hunee - Mano Le Tough - Erol Alkan - Sasha
Myd - Paco Osuna - Severino - Leo Mas
Man Power - Felix Dickinson - MIXHELL
Words by Bill Brewster:
The Balearic tradition, as indefinable as it perhaps is, has as much to do with Italy as it does with Ibiza. It’s no coincidence that one of the architects of the Balearic sound alongside DJ Alfredo, was northern Italian DJ, Leo Mas. While most of Europe’s dancefloors in the 1980s were filled with the music of Black America and the UK, with a smattering of Italo-disco, some of the northern regions of Italy (especially Emilia-Romagna) were experimenting with all kinds of strangeness, from leftfield electronic records, weird pop music, African and Brazilian sounds and records being played at the ‘wrong’ speed, in a movement that has been variously described as Afro or Cosmic (no two Italians can ever agree on exactly what it’s called). It was arguably the most revolutionary period in world dance music.
Into this tradition boldly steps Milan’s Rollover crew. As well as a regular party in Milan, the Rollover DJs (Tiberio Carcano & Rocco Fusco) have been making edits and releasing tunes over the past several years, but with this release there has been a step change in ambition. The latest collection of songs has been produced in a studio with actual musicians and songwriters, but with the ear of an experienced DJ. The best of both worlds. It was recorded almost exactly one year ago in December 2022, with the cream of Italian players, including bass player and Jovanotti collaborator, Saturnino, sticksman Sergio Carnevale, vocalist David Blank and guitar and synth boffin Lorenzo Morresi, who’s helped the guys with production. It follows in the tradition of a new generation of Italian musicians, like Nu Genea, Mystic Jungle Tribe and also DJs like Volcov.
The lead single, ‘What Do You Live For’ was what Rocco & Tiberio describes as, “a funky track inspired by the early 1980s” and grooves so hard, with Blank’s message hitting right in the solar plexus. This will be followed by a pair of bangers, ‘Change My Mind’, a mid tempo disco chugger that is a tribute to LTJ Experience, the Bologna DJ Luca Trevisi, while ‘Never Found The Way’ heads towards Arthur Russel, before pealing off directly to the dancefloor. There’s also a Bawrut remix that adds some urgency and darkness to proceedings. The package is completed by lovely artwork by Riccardo Corda, whose work has adorned the Nu Genea releases.
Is it Balearic? We think it is.
credits
released February 2, 2024
Vocals by David Blank
Bass by Saturnino
Drums by Sergio Carnevale
Guitar by Lorenzo Morresi
Produced by Rocco Fusco, Tiberio Carcano & Lorenzo Morresi
Master by Maspaventi
Artwork by Riccardo Corda
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