This new release is kind of collection album between the Italian producers Francesco Rago and Gianluigi Farina with the duo of Italoconnection (Fred Ventura / Paolo Gozzetti), which have been internationally renowned not only being pioneers of the Italian Electronic music scene but also for their highly recognized remix works for Hurts or The Human League. „Rago & Farina vs Italoconnection“ compiles for the most part the works of the duo Rago / Farina released originally under their projects like Atelier Folie, Decadence, Expansives, and/or 'Lectric Workers.

Kindly note that this duo has been active since the early 80s and especially with their Atelier Folie project in the years between 1982 to 1987 signed under major labels like WEA or EMI Music they could gained some recognition. Rago and Farina themselves have reactivated their mutual projects over the last decade and have pimped here and there some of classic tunes. Now and with the producers of Italoconnection backed up, this release is about to pay tribute to mutual years of friendship, collaboration and travels. It is about to collect some of their iconic Italo Disco songs in a reworked, reproduced and remixed sound outfit.

This album therefore has been already available via the Italoconnection web resources as a 9-track digital-only item and since the presented quality on here is mouthwatering, it's relatively understandable that the protagonists behind Nadanna in person of Marc Schaffer (Anna Logue Records) and Nader Moumneh (Electro Aggression Records) couldn't resist to re-release it and to spend 4 additional tracks to this CD edition now laying in front of me.

So the album starts with their Atelier Folie classic tune “No Rhyme, No Reason”, originally released in 1983 on WEA Italy and available as the usual vinyl items (7“ / 12“) and backed up with a video clip. It's interesting to see that Atelier Folie tried musically to unite elements out of the UK-based New Wave styles in vein of New Order / The Cure (check the guitar insertions on here...) with the traditional Italo Disco sound (The beloved DX7 hook-lines...) to keep it more danceable and energetic.

“Freedom Time” with its opulent keyboard lines and a singing-along-the-line chorus got featured two times on here and I am pretty much fond of the Original Club Mix created by the duo itself. What a beautiful, sun-drenched summertime-tune. Best thing is that also the second version provided by the Italoconnection offers entertaining ingredients.
Same counts for the musically reanimation of Decadence's “On And On” with some cool female vocal insertions in the chorus. The producers of the Italoconnection have already put their fingers on this item a while back, two of their re-produced versions can be checked out here.

A rather unusual track can be discovered with the spacey sounding instrumental tune “Borealis”, originally composed by their side-project 'Lectric Workers originally in 1982 – of course newly revamped, this is finest Synth-Electronica entertainment.

Lots of well-arranged Synthpop and Italo-Disco on at least all 13 tracks here, which unites the classic 80s inspired sound with up-to-date studio production tools and with the right guys for a fruitful joint venture who know about the stuff they are producing here.

This CD is limited edition of 300 copies and comes in a beautiful digi-pack. Absolutely recommendable and of course available directly via Marc Schaffer's Anna Logue mail-order service.