Jun 30, 2019
Gruppo Sound - Walking on Air (Dualismo Sound, 2019)
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Gruppo Sound - Walking on Air (Dualismo Sound, 2019)
Reviews 269: Gruppo Sound
The next essential reissue on Dualismo Sound comes from Gruppo Sound, less a distinct band or group of producers and more so a name used by a wide range of studio musicians in the mid to late 80s operating in Rome and associated to the library and sonorization label Flipper Music. The Dance Power / Walking on Air 12” features two tracks pulled from Gruppo Sound’s 1987 LP Dreams for Sax , which in this case was helmed by saxophonist Paolo Russo and keyboard player and engineer Stefano Galante, the latter of whom was known for “one of the smoothest synths of Italo disco,” in the words of Dualismo main man Andrea Dallera. At the time, Dreams for Sax mostly served as environmental ambiance for shopping malls and in fact, the LP seems to be used for this purpose even today, as Russo reports that he still receives royalties from all over the world. But despite this function as background music, the Dreams for Sax LP contains two feverish gems of Italo boogie: “Dance Power” and “Walking on Air,” each of which has been lovingly restored from the original master tapes, loud pressed at 45 RPM, and adorned with artwork by the ever amazing Riccardo Corda. And across the two tracks, fluid funkbass grooves and muscular disco drums sit beneath futuristic synthesis and gliding guitar riffs, while high in the sky, Russo’s sax and Galante’s piano soar through paradise seascapes and fusion dreamworlds.
Gruppo Sound - Dance Power / Walking on Air (Dualismo Sound, 2019) Electro-pulsations generate waves of funk fantasy in “Dance Power” as a guitar riffs in counterpoint, creating webs of fusion syncopation through which disco drums smash and stomp. Greasy basslines revel in low slung liquid magic while Russo soars through multi-tracked saxophone melodies…his long swelling drones erupting into effervescent ascents and dueling paradise leads. The sax then trades off with Galante’s romantic piano reveries, all plink-plonking saloon blues intermingling with sunshine jazz. Chord clusters spread into glimmering solo runs as the bass guitar moves through romantic key changes but eventually, the basslines cut out, leaving spacey sequences to percolate and guitars to flutter while horn bleats and tenor skronks hit like puffs of air. As the boogie basslines return with vibes of buttery sexuality and burning funk fever, the drums ride patient and true, with heady hi-hat switch-ups comprising the only embellishment. And after working again through the layered saxophone majesties and glowing piano dreamscapes, we transition into a spellbinding solo section, where first Russo and his sax climb ever higher towards a cloudburst sky before backing down into guttural low-end growls. Then comes Galante’s piano solo, which journeys through starscape realms via breathtaking runs and glissando patterns that stretch the length of the keyboard. Towards the end, after one last anthemic saxophone refrain, Russo and Galante solo together through a mediterranean nightscape, with layered tenors screaming, pianos transforming into glowing crystals, and blazing jazz runs hitting from all directions.
Then in “Walking on Air,” a snare roll drops us into pure twilight fantasy, with massive four-four disco beats relaxing beneath cracking claps and shuffling hats. Squelching synth chords paint the air in romance hues and set the stage for Galante’s romantic piano journeys and seaside ivory adventures. Fat bottomed basslines sit deep in the mix and slide through sensual boogie motions…as if unseen forces are stoking groove euphoria…and layered saxophones melt over cinematic piano refrains, with tenor and keys working through bewildering harmonizations. Things take a turn towards sci-fi dream magic as propulsive electro-sequencing joins the mix, helping everything ascend beyond the clouds towards realms of solar wonderment and future fusion spirituality. As we move back into the balearic piano groove, Galante keeps close to the main melody while also bursting forth with so much life and energy, presaging (to these ears) things such as Coyote’s “More Alive” from Glide Time and Mind Fair’s recent remix of Calm’s “My Fair Town.” Popping snare rolls and fiery rhythmic change-ups add further energy as we sweep back into the filmic sax and piano passage, with the two instruments locking into paradise patterns and stoking the heart while bubbling electronics surf through through futuristic oceans. And within the harmonious layers and joyous melodic themes, Russo and Galante can both be heard breaking free and alighting on hypnotic runs that set the air aflame…as if tenors are soaring towards a sunset horizon while pearlescent pianos splash through aquamarine tide pools.
(images from my personal copy)
nothing says dance competition season like drinking smoothies that taste like straight kale and taking off three pounds of makeup at the end of every night
Alex Kamens - Dance Power (Gary Caos x The Knocks)