Sometimes i am embarrassed by my own ignorance when it comes to techno and tech house artists – my knowledge of who has done what, and when is quite blurred. So when i found this release, i wondered if this was another one that i had missed over the years of skimming mp3 samples for records to buy…

I have never heard of this London-based duo, but with good reason – discogs.com shows their first 12″ as being released in 2006. This then is their debut album. Italoboyz (aka Marco Donato and Federico Marton) are described as ‘minimal techno’ and ‘characterized by organic elements along with large doses of funk and energy’. Okay then.

Actually i couldn’t have put it better myself. The album sets off with a brave 12 minute builder called ‘Where is London’ with a subdued techno bassline, and a fantastic baroque sounding piano piece… and a massive ‘Big Ben’ chime sample along the intro and outro. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but it does. This is the merging of genres in its truest form.

The album continues with some menacing upbeat bouncy rhythms and plenty of percussion. Im sure i heard a saxomophone in there somewhere too. The tongue-in-cheek vocal sampling in ‘Chinese’ with put a nice grin on your face. So at the very least you get a laugh for your money =)

The whole album is rounded off quite nicely with a live track called ‘The Pink Unicorn’ which is a delightful 8 minute melody and soft hi-hats.

This is the the perfect album to listen too in the comfort of your armchair, or a great way to wind down after a hard night of partying.

Rating (out of 5) : 5

Genre: Techno / Minimal / Instrumental
Release Date: 21/09/2009
Label: Mothership
Cat No: MSHIP023
Tracklist:

1. Italoboyz avec Masomenos – Where is London
2. Taka Taka Tashhh
3. Chinese
4. Edo Breiss
5. Techno Tower
6. L’Anagramme
7. Italoboyz vs. John Coltrane – Bahia
8. Oh Mio Dio
9. The Pink Unicorn (live in Tokyo)

mp3 release: http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=225408
cd release: http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=226739
flac release: http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=225408&highlight=225419

Official Website: www.italoboyz.com