The Twelve Inch 181 : Conga : Freestyle/Dance-pop/Italo - 1985
TheTwelveInch - Pe Dupré
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Description
This week’s mix is built like a set I might have played in 1985/1986. At that time, dance music was evolving differently in Europe compared to the US. In the States, freestyle was getting ready to dominate the dancefloor, alongside synth-funk and the first wave of house. Meanwhile, Europe leaned heavily on dance-pop and Italo disco. That’s the path I’ve chosen for this week’s selection.
We kick things off with Conga by Miami Sound Machine, then take a brief detour into one of those early freestyle gems, Exposé’s Come Go With Me. From there, the set moves into dance-pop shaped by electro hip-hop and freestyle influences. Think fewer strict four-to-the-floor beats and more rhythmic twists, with Kim Wilde, ABC, and Depeche Mode.
After George Kranz’s classic Din Daa Daa and some Blancmange, the second half shifts fully into Italo mode. You’ll hear The Flirts, Fancy, Ken Laszlo, and finally one of my personal favorites: Sandy Marton’s Exotic & Erotic.
