“There is no defined goal, rather a desire to explore new sonic languages that hold firmly to Neapolitan roots while opening up to a global and contemporary musical aesthetic.” - Pellegrino

With the name Koinè, a term that means “common language,” the work already guards a declaration of intent in its title, where languages (spoken and musical) and dialects mingle, creating a mosaic of sounds, sensations and visions that weaves the Neapolitan melodic tradition with disco, funk, jazz fusion and world music. Pellegrino abandons the patterns associated with revivalism, experimenting with new compositional dimensions and drawing from an imagery that blends vintage instruments, ethnic percussion and Mediterranean atmospheres.
Koinè is a musical journey that embraces the risk of change while exalting its liberating power: a sequence of images and emotions, traversing the past, experiencing the present with its baggage of disillusions and expectations and projecting itself into the future in search of a need for elsewhere that reconnects us with ourselves.

The album is a eulogy of contaminations: from popular music to synth pop, contemporary songs blending with a “dance” fusion. A delicate balance between roots and change, tradition and creative drive, in which the Pellegrino & Zodyaco project draws an authentic and contemporary portrait of the Neapolitan “new school” of which it was among the first promoters with the works “Zodyaco I” (2018) and “Morphé

Koinè is proof that escape, when it is conscious, can bring us back to the heart of things.

"In times like these, escape is the only way to stay alive and keep dreaming" H.L.

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2023 Repress!
The stars and their reflection on the sea still inspire Pellegrino and his live band Zodyaco. Their second LP 'Morphè' released on Early Sounds Recordings, is an ode to Naples as seen from Vesuvius. The ensemble that follows him through this musical journey has been enriched with new members for the continuous development of the label's distinctive Mediterranean sound; this marks a further step into the evolution of their Neapolitan melodic disco from the slopes of Vesuvius.

The sound and aesthetic metamorphosis of this second release, which gives the title to the LP [ the greek word "Morphé" ] is inspired by the conflicting scenarios of the Neapolitan metropolis; always caught up between the never ending and frenetic flow of its narrow alleys and the soothing relief of the sea, with the night as the backdrop that is not able to light it up its inner depths.

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1- Caucciù (Damecuta Version)
2 - Caucciù (Migliera Version)
Exploring new approaches of its Mediterranean sound, "Zodyaco" project, founded by Pellegrino, returns with a 7” single and two versions delineating the shape of its Neapolitan melodic disco from the slopes of Vesuvius.
Intimate and intense or exuberant and sensual, depends from which prospective you look at the sea.

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Repress!
Pellegrino presents his new project “Zodyaco”. Inspired by the ancient mythology of the stars and their deep influence on the sea life, the record is the result of nocturnal jams in the wake of the Italian jazz-funk tradition, exotic fusion and Mediterranean mysticism. A tribute to the stars and their reflections on the sea.

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Pellegrino & Zodyaco, with their new single 'Malìa', continue the aesthetic and sonic journey of the project led by the Neapolitan producer, with a mixture of Neapolitan disco-funk and fusion steeped in Latin flavour that already explored the innermost corners of the soul with 'Quimere'. This new work captures the frenzy and vibrant character of Naples, with its rarefied atmospheres and infectious groove that evoke the beating heart of the city and take us on a journey through the wonder of life in search of the Mediterranean essence.
The 'Malìa' is enchanting, it’s that mysterious force that hides deep inside, transforming itself into a vortex of emotions through the fusion of involving rhythms and reflections on inner battles, on the importance of finding the 'light' to overcome conflicts and difficulties that hinder the ability to choose, a dreamlike mirage that opens a window on human vulnerability, a hymn to authenticity, to self-acceptance.

The celebration of dance in the Caribbean Escapade version is also an exhortation to escape from everyday life; it takes us into a sonic imagery that plays with the Neapolitan musical tradition and the freshness of Caribbean and Latin sounds. This summer single becomes an ode to the vital energy of dance music: there is no more time for hesitation, one must let oneself be carried away by the enthralling embrace of 'Malìa', like a call to awareness and the search for authenticity in life. Malìa becomes the guiding thread, the mystery that urges us to go beyond the confines of everyday life, to explore and celebrate the complexity of existence.

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Printed Inner Sleeve.

Step into a journey through time with Lapa Dula's debut album "Agua", proudly presented by the Early Sounds team. “Agua” is a sonic and aesthetic collage, a tribute to the sounds and memories of Naples and its surroundings in the vibrant cultural and social scene of the mid 1980s, not just a reflection of producer’s Alessandro La Padula childhood memories, but also a nod to the myths and legends of Partenope. Written between Rome and Naples and co-produced by label head Pellegrino, "Agua" is the latest addition to the imprint’s distinctive "Mediterranean sound" blending funk, Latin, world music, and disco, with songs like the balearic title track "Agua" and the nostalgic ode to rural life "Sibilla", also inspired by the myth of the Sibyl of Cumae, this album takes you on a journey of emotions and experiences.

From vernacular "Scemanfu", a fun play on the French expression "je m'en fous" (I don't care), to the contemplative "Navigante", dedicated to those who have found solace in the sea or in the virtual world, and the final track "Baibai", inspired by the adventurous and licentious affairs of English nobleman Sir Nathaniel Thorold, who lived on the island of Capri, each song tells a story and adds a piece to this mosaic of sounds, images, and places.

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After almost two years from the LP "Morphé", Pellegrino returns with a single of his Zodyaco ensemble project and its distinctive musical identity between Mediterranean mysticism and Latin splendour.

Quimere, title of the single, are a metaphor for an inexpressible desire, an impossible dream, two interpretations of a song in the shadow of the sun that warms up Naples at the sunset of its summer, that invisible wall that divides souls, or perhaps an impossible love suspended between the stars and their reflections on the sea.

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The first release in a new catalog series dedicated to the 7" . Here are two reworks produced between Italy and the United States, inspired by Italian cosmic atmospheres of the late 70s: “Cascades” by Stephen Schlacks (1978) and “Pulsazioni” by Filippo Trecca (1979).

“Cascate Emozionali Volume One” is a tribute to these two composers, and to all others that, just like them, have created immortal melodies and atmospheres. This project is also a work of sound archeology, of careful research of the synthesizers and the sounds that have given life to the original versions, here reproduced with a contemporary luster, honoring their original essence.
This music is a container full of emotions, of nostalgia for an era that no longer exists, of faded memories that are suspended in the cosmos, of moments that we miss. All of them connected to our childhood, our family, to our loved ones, and to the objects that were there all along, like the “Selene” chair of Vico Magistretti, redesigned for the cover by French illustrator Alexis Jamet.

Music to remember.

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A soundtrack for the contemporary "Vinti" (defeated) with its dark and at the same time sparkling flavor of the '80s sounds between cold wave, synth pop and imaginary electronic atmospheres. This record with its horror-framed and distopic scenario ("Slot Machine") reveals a content of social criticism healed through the warm and evocative indulgence of "Che Male C’e”.

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Repress!
We welcome Ed Longo and his studio project The Applied Arts Ensemble debut on Early Sounds with “The Other Fantasy”, the result of many recording sessions that took place in different places around Europe. Conceived with a strong jazz-funk, fusion and boogie sound it has been conceptualized around the idea that the schizophrenia of the internet-age, the visions of Otherness (the undiscovered lands, the primitive happiness, the impossible love) permeate the collective consciousness and the idealized "Other" loses any correspondence with the physical world.

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The first volume of Napoli Segreta is a selection of the rarest and most sought after compositions of the 70's and 80's Napolitan disco and funk scene.. Check!

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Repress!
After more than 30 years Early Sounds and Halfway Ritmo release unpublished recordings (1982-1989) from former Tangerine Dream and Iggy Pop's drummer Klaus Kruger.

Advanced Dance combines a sweeping mix of Kruger's handcrafted acoustic drums and distinctive electronic sounds of the late Berlin-School years, creating a unique blend of advanced polyrhythms.
Kruger achieved a balance between creativity and classic drum patterns giving birth to an unconventional and avant-garde type of music that could be easily defined as a precursor of techno.
His progressive mentality led him to delve further into the tape collage technique and unique ways of triggering his drums. It was a whole new world of music - sustained by his artistic surroundings, which included collaborations as well as friendships with other influential artists such as David Bowie, Martin Kippenberger and Helmut Newton.

In the time of German division, the pulsating West Berlin became a melting pot of creativity and international encounters. Advanced Dance is the result of the blazing heat feeding the unstoppable thirst of discovery which characterized that generation, creating tunes that transform the listener's experience into one blissful moment amidst beautiful confusion.

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Milan, Italy, 1983. In the midst of the 80s economic boom, which gave an injection of optimism after the heavily political 70s, a group of young local musicians meet every night in a basement to rehearse and record a peculiar breed of Italian disco music. Originated from the ashes of various other projects, and rooted in the broader jazz-funk tradition, the group creates music which is equally inspired by contemporary fusion as well as by the first wave of the italo-disco sound. Over approximately 3 years the band has recorded and played live, until the dismantling of the project towards the mid 80's.
Fast forward 35 years and the genuinely mediterranean flavor of Qvark's demo recordings are still enjoyable, both for the actual resurgence of the Italian disco tradition and for the groovy quirkiness of a project which has been too long forgotten. After an intense work of audio restoration of such tapes, heavily affected by time, Early Sounds is pleased to present a compila

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On his debut mini-album, Pellegrino goes for a periplus around mediterranean savors, dispensing a multi-flavored cocktail of fast-moving disco groovers, spacey jazz-fusion experiments and sun-bleached funky melters .

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One-off electronic disco project of 1984 for the unmistakable sounds of the Yamaha DX7 - especially the notorious "tubular bells" during the verses - introduced at the end of '83, but which didn't catch on in Italo-Disco until the following year. "Dancing Dode" has the strangest spelling ever. Whoever created this truly amazing super theme barely knew English as the word "dode" does not exist in English. This explains why some Italo-Disco songs have obvious grammatical errors even on the original records. The artist or the authors thought that [du:d] would be written "dode" in English, but in reality it's "dude"... which means a meticulous and elegant man, potentially homosexual, in short a gay type, "King /Queen" of disco dancing like in that film with J.T.. The role of disco in the 80s was a ground for negotiating rights throughout history, so most people didn't care too much about choosing and hating someone's sexual orientation, but dancing, listening to music and this song with a beautiful melody is perhaps the rarest Italo-Disco song ever made.

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Starting his career with appearances on BBC Radio 1 and signing with Elton Johns label as a teenager, Maldwyn Pope's presence in music has been rich and productive from an early age eventually leading to working with people like Cliff Richards, Art Garfunkel and Bonnie Taylor. However, his presence in Italo-Disco has been quite scarce, but completely on point. "Altered State" is a masterpiece amongst enthusiasts and collectors of dancefloor sleaze and downtempo wellness. Heavy rock influence meets Rimini with this one off experiment from the seasoned multi instrumentalist. Original instrumental remix done by none other than Alessandro Novaga, the entity responsible behind one of Ron Hardy's favorite DJ tools (Faces Drums). B-side features an 11 minute excursion into a completely new altered state of dubby delayed trance, for special cosmic holes only. Re-issued with new full artwork.

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Disco Segreta resurrects an extraordinary chapter from the captivating world of late 1970s Italian disco music!

In this installment, we pay homage to Sicilian producer, Franco D’Accardi, hailing from Palermo.

Franco assumed the helm of the small record label ASA (Artisti Siciliani Associati), known for its diverse catalog, which included progressive rock, folk, and a sprinkling of disco. In 1978, Franco’s path crossed with that of American model Adrienne Edwards while in Sicily.

He enlisted her talents to contribute vocals to two tracks, “Mystic Night” and “Disco Dancing,” which were released in 1979 on a 45 RPM record limited to 1500 copies, exclusively distributed in the local area.

While “Disco Dancing” on the B-side offers a fantastic rendition of Stanley Turrentine’s disco classic, “Mystic Night” stands out as an electrifying, enigmatic, and seductive disco masterpiece. It’s a captivating fusion of drums, congas, snares, slap-bass, and mind-bending synthesizer work, where Adrienne’s voice harmonizes with a deep male voice, attempting to entice her.

In short, “Mystic Night” is an utterly unique and indispensable gem in the landscape of underground Italian disco, marking the twilight of the golden disco era.

After extensive efforts, Disco Segreta is reissuing these remarkable Italian disco treasures, fully remastered to meet contemporary standards.

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Reissue of this italo disco rarity from 1987. Comes with Flemming Dalum and Hysteric remixes!

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A previously unreleased remix of Gabriels' seminal track ‘Love & Hate In A Different Time’ lands from Greg Wilson and Ché Wilson.

Perfectly encapsulating the Wilson’s revered fusion of nu-disco and 80s electro, the duo gives new life to a somewhat untouchable classic; recontextualizing the lauded original into an authentic, funk-driven builder suited for any dancefloor. A mastery in respectable yet individual remixing.


DJ Feedback:

Demuja - yesss gonna be my next closer!

Mousse T - so well done, love this

Auntie Flo - Excellent!

LTJ Bukem - Love it!

Chris Duckenfield - A subtle & more gently propulsive dancefloor meditation of an instant classic

Chrissy - nice one!

Busy P - original was already perfect. this remix give it another twist and i love it!

Denney - wicked

The Knocks / James Patterson - hard.

Tom / Groove Armada - brilliant rework

Death On The Balcony - love it!

Sam Divine - Dope!

Crazy P - nicely done

Malente - AMAZING

Elliot Adamson - My fave so far of the remixes

Severino / Horse Meat Disco - yeeees

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Pleasure of Love reissue imprint, New Islands, launches with a quiet storm, soulful balearic stunner. Kim Yaffa’s Once Bitten was recorded in LA and released on a 1989 private press 7 Inch, only to be buried in american record bins for decades after. A re-emergence of Yaffa’s music on the internet in the last couple years has reached fever pitch, with collectors thirsting for copies of the record. Now, New Islands has worked directly with the artist to deliver an official reissue, professionally transferred from the mixdown reels, carefully restored, and remastered. The title track is an effortless class-act pop tune, with 80s blue eyed soul/Sade inspired sounds, and unknowingly balearic production that make it timeless (reminiscent of Linda Di Franco, Edie Brickell or 80s Fleetwood Mac). The 12 Inch is rounded out by new mixes from Nick the Record (Record Mission) and Michael David (Classixx)

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"Stop the World" is another captivating song released in 1984 by Eyes Records, written by three names who certainly need no introduction. Ivana Spagna, Larry Pignagnoli and Ottavio Bacciocchi. However, their artistic depth and their fundamental contribution to Italo-Disco (and not only) in their respective roles should be remembered: Ivana, an excellent lyricist and singer (also for third parties) who became the great pop star still today considered the most graceful in circulation; Larry, who deserves a handful of Grammy Awards for his countless arrangements (but it is enough to mention "Easy Lady" and "Call Me") and finally the modest and precious Ottavio with his excellent Studio Master 33 from Cremona, among the first to find the right sound of Italo-Disco already in the early 80s.. Their contribution then married perfectly with the artistic direction curated by Salvy Lauria and Giacomo Danesi. It's worth highlighting the approximately 6 minute instrumental track of "Stop The World", it's a dance floor killer. Giuliano Saglia and Silvio Trisolino are right in wanting to re-propose only and exclusively the two original songs which after 40 years have been perfectly remastered by Dom Scuteri. Best Record is right to carry out all the work of this wonderful jewel, after having already reissued Blue Gas, Future State and Lily Ann, the other praiseworthy productions of the reborn Milanese label. Aficionados do well not to miss this other reissue of an Italo Disco classic from the 80s !!!

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Jamie 3:26 presents Dancefloor Damage Vol.1! Personal exclusives from his collection, these have damaged dancefloors around the world for years and are now available on vinyl for the first time ever. From the Southside of Chicago to the world. Two killer disco classics re-worked by a legend. Buy or cry.

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When Ben White was 25 years old Eddy Bongo Brown of the Funk Brothers brought him to Motown to play with Marvin Gay, 5 years later he recorded this single 'I would have to be a fool' and released it himself. Ben comes from a long line of musicians in his family, his cousins are Cab Calloway and Otis Redding. Over the years he sessioned for Marvin Gay, Bloodstone, Carl Carlton, High Energy, Harold Johnson, J.W. Alexander, Richard T & The Salsoul Orchestra Unfortunately, as is often the case, children came along and Ben moved away from music, this and forthcoming AOTN single 'Give Me Love' were his only solo recordings unless we can find the tapes of his lost LP further down the line.

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The brand new Divine Chords release on 7 inch single for 2024, featuring the explosive vocals of Gospel royalty Lady Lois Snead. Two powerhouse tracks reconstructed, arranged & mixed by Divine Who. Set to take the roof off the more discerning dance floors across the globe.

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Round two of Leo Zero's edit archive series sees four more favourites given the LZ treatment.

On the A you'll find a killer housed-up version of an New Wave classic, alongside a tight n' tidy beefed up slo-mo disco remaster and chop of a west coast rock beauty. On the flip, a chunky remake of Brit soul bomb as well as a curveball dubby, wonked out version of an alt rock rhythm that's flipped this one into a deep 5am groover.

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Repress!
Pellegrino presents his new project “Zodyaco”. Inspired by the ancient mythology of the stars and their deep influence on the sea life, the record is the result of nocturnal jams in the wake of the Italian jazz-funk tradition, exotic fusion and Mediterranean mysticism. A tribute to the stars and their reflections on the sea.

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