| GIANLUIGI "GIGI" FARINA and FRANCESCO RAGO are to be counted among Italo disco's true originators. Operating as a duo under many monikers, they brought us masterpieces such as Wanexa's "The Man From Colours," Lectric Workers' "Robot Is Systematic," and Decadance's "On And On." Their sound is propulsive and ethereal in equal measure-dense, psychedelic, and tinged with melancholy. "The Man From Colours" was recorded in Milan in 1982 and released on Discomagic Records the same year. The songs music was composed by Rago and Farina, with lyrics written by Xenia Monneret, who was only 16 at the time. Mournful synth pads are buoyed by an 808 groove, while Lyana Galis provides haunting vocals, singing of a man who will bring color to this grey world. "The Man From Colours" was influential on early House and Techno music thanks to support from WBMX in Chicago and and WJLB in Detroit. It was later a cornerstone in the 90's Hague electro scene, frequently appearing in DJ sets by I-F and Intergalactic Gary. On the B-side is the instrumental version with extended breaks, drum claps and additional vocoder verses. There is a slight warble in the beginning of each version that was due to the band re-recording multiple takes on the same reel of tape. Both songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The record comes housed in a newly designed die-cut jacket by Eloise Leigh, updating the pink and green color scheme of the original Discomagic Records label. Each copy includes a double-sided postcard insert with lyrics, notes, and a never seen before photo from a fashion show. |
