While the Belgians were responsible for bringing us the mighty HOOVER and those synth sounds that changed the course of the UK rave scene for ever, the Italians gave us something else entirely different. Pianos!
They were masters of the rush inducing piano riff in this pinnacle year and the UK borrowed heavily from the incredible catalogue of tracks flooding into the UK, first in the UK breakbeat hardcore scene and then again in the happy hardcore scene of '94/'95 (check out our other sections to hear the evidence!). Italo house! We love you!
1.Don Carlos - Alone
Whereas Belgium directly influenced jungle tekno, Italo house was responsible for filtering all of those luscious piano riffs deep into UK rave culture. They were masters at the piano riff and UK producers very quickly started to pillage this ever growing bank of amazing sounds and textures to inform the breakbeat scene and it's lighter side, the likes of which Manix and SL2 came to dominate.
This wonderful composition was later sampled by Omni Trio on their 'Deepest Cut' LP in 1995. The way we remember it, a lot of the older heads circa 88/89 that couldn't deal with the emerging hardcore sound defected lock , stock and Vicks bottle to the Italo house sound, and you can see why when you fall into this sublime piece of work. Float away people, float away.
2.Alex Lee - Take It!
Man. The stunning beauty behind this is difficult to describe. That intro is probably one of the most emotive pieces of music in the history of the underground dance movement. Used many times over in the UK hardcore (and later happy hardcore) scene, this original 1989 version is truly wonderful. God bless the Italians.
3.N-Joi - Anthem
British made but Italo in every conceivable way, this stunning piece by the Essex based 5 piece had untold influence on the UK hardcore scene. Treat with respect.
4.Digital Boy - OK! Alright!
Showing that they could give the Belgians a run for their money, the Italians could also throw down something pretty heavy from time to time. OK! Alright! was a perfect example. What a belter!
5.Mig 29 - Mig 29
Not to be outdone by either the UK or Belgium, the Italians also made some kick ass techno in '91. We saw dancefloors absolutely fall apart to this. With that grinding techno riff and the absolutely LUSH uplifting section, this grabbed 'em right by their purple Kickers. Interestingly, they also continued the age old tradition (since the heady Italo Disco days of the 80s) of using aliases that would appeal to the UK/US market, hence the Military reference. COME ON THEN!
6.R.A.F by M Picotto - We Gonna Get
Mauro Picotto before he was a Globe trotting mega DJ! The Italians were great at throwing loads of stuff into a sampler and seeing what came out the other end. This is a wikked example! Has all the ingredients to want to make you get your bottle of Vicks out, that's for sure. YES YES!
7.Phenomania - Who Is Elvis?
Of German origin (one half of the amazing duo - Hardfloor) but released in Italy on Flying Records and definitely having an Italian feel to it, we simply could not not include this techno stomper. What a frickin belter. ONE FOR THE MONEY!
8.Anticappella - 2√231
One of the very best of the '91 Italo era, this techno stomper had all the right ingredients to make a floor spin on its head. Again, we see a take on the light/dark blend (the Italian version this time) that went on to become a staple part of the UK rave sound of the following year. ACE!
9.TC 1991 - Berry
OH MY WORD! What a rush when those strings come in! We've seen dancefloors fall apart to this thing. The ascending string section and then that elongated high note while everything else fades out..................BOOM! GENIUS!
10.K-klass - Rhythm Is A Mystery
Another British born Italo masterpiece, this time from the K-klass boys. This is just sublime and still gets dropped in house sets across the Globe to this very day. A proper rushing tune. KLASS!
11.Shades O Rhythm - Everybody
Peterborough's finest, Shades Of Rhythm, AKA S/O/R pulled something quite spectacular out of the bag with this Italo monster form the Extacy EP. A re-work of the album version of the same year (which is also excellent), this had them all closing their eyes and tripping off to god knows where. A truly beautiful piece of Italo piano heaven. BLISS!
12.Shades Of Rhythm - Every Time I See Her
Staying with S/O/R for now, this absolutely monumental smash from '91 was one of the very few rave tracks of the year with a full on vocal. Those piano threads running through the whole thing meant that this was just at home in hardcore raves as it was house rooms up and down the country. A pure thoroughbred crossover. It's every time I see her!
13.Rozalla - Everybody's Free
This went the pop chart version of viral back in 1991 and when you get locked into it you can see why. Not only home to a wikked vocal and rushing piano riff, but one of the bubbliest basslines in the entire genre. Bounces like a fucking good 'un!
15.Jinny - Keep Warm
Wrapping up this introductory section to the Italo house sound of '91, you can see the MASSSIVE and UNDISPUTED impact that it had on UK hardcore, particularly the piano driven breakbeat, that fuelled so many DJ sets and all night raves during this amazing year for underground dance music. We highly recommend that you go on a three day bender researching the very best of what this beautiful country had to offer in the melting pot year of 1991. Si Si Si !!
