Flemming Dalum is a name that will need absolutely no introduction to anyone who knows anything about Italo. The man is a legend. For many of us, when we first begin to dip below the surface of Italo music, it’s Fleming’s celebrated mixes that serve as our guide.
Known as ‘The King Of The Cut’, Dallum is probably the world’s most famous collector of Italo records and a DJ who as bolstered the Italo scene since it’s beginning. A self-confessed vinyl junkie with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Italo, Disco and Synth music in general, Flemming crafts mixes that take the leister not only on a journey through Italo, both the hits and the obscure, but also on a journey through a Sci-Fi landscape, Flemming Dalum’s mixes always have one foot on the dancefloor, one foot in space. Never loosing fait, even when Italo seemed to fade into obscurity, Flemming is still a central figure on the scene, supporting and championing the next generation of Italo producers though this Italo resurgence we are currently experiencing.
The King Of The Cut recently took some time to chew the fat about his history with Italo music and present electronic rumors with a special exclusive Italo mix! Having an electronic rumors mix from Flemming Dalum feels like unlocking an end of level boss!
ER: You known for being the all round authority on Italo, but before the early 80’s when you become enamoured with Italo, was there any other types music you are into?
FD: I grow up with the typical Pop and Rock sound in the ’70’s. In the late ’70’s and early ’80’s I became very fascinated by the new synthesizer sounds! Before my Italo passion started back in 1982, I was actually very much into electronic music from England, Canada and USA.
ER: And how was your love for Italo born?
FD: A good friend of mine came back home from holiday in Italy in 1980, 1981 and 1982 with lots of great Italian disco music. At that time we called it for “Italian Space Disco” (properly only a local theme) I remember one record in particularly: KOTO – Chinese Revenge… I guess after hearing that record there was no way back for me… soon I discovered so many Italo records full of amazing synths!, so fantastic and great… I simply had to go directly to Italy to buy more! In 1983 one of my friend invited me to join him on a trip to Italy to buy more of this fantastic music. He spoke perfect Italian which helped us to become friends with the staff at Disco Magic and Il Discotto… After this trip I continued on my own and I’d visit them approx. 10 times. It was perfect for me to buy Italo directly from the source.
ER: In the early ’80’s were the records hard to find in Denmark?
FD: Yes pretty hard actually. A few shops did import from Italy… but in the end I had to go there myself to ensure that I didn’t miss any records.
Also funny/interesting to see: in the ’80’s I could actually have many of the records approx. 6 or even 8 months before it was available in shops in Denmark. And still only a small part of Italo Disco reached the Danish record shops…
ER: How did you first manage to hook up with the big Italian labels?
FD: The crew at Il Discotto and Disco Magic was very friendly and totally amazed that I wanted to travel all the way from Denmark to Italy, just to buy records 🙂 . In-between my trips I talked with them over the phone, to ensure I didn’t miss any essential vinyls.
ER: What came first, the Italo collecting or the DJing? How did the DJing come about?
FD: I played in a band on synth/keyboards in the early ’80’s. After some years I started to buy records with this fantastic synths sound (they sounded better than when I played on my synths hehe). So I started to DJ around 1982/1983. I have a nice memory of the summer of 1984 I played a 45 minutes Italo set in a club in Italy. The heavy record collecting started around my first trip to Italy in 1983.
ER: How did you cope in-between the fading of Italo in the late ’80’s and it’s underground resurgence in the 21st century?
FD: I was so fascinated with the underground electronic/synths sound, so I followed the cutting edge/frontier of electronic underground from the Italo faded away in 1986 until today!
ER: Is there any Italo record you’ve always wanted a copy of but have never been able to get your hands on?
FD: No… Actually I was lucky to have a complete collection in 1986, after 3 years of extreme record hunting I found everything I wanted. During the last 8 years I’ve met so many nice friends from all over the world who kindly helped me with new discoveries. Times change, and it’s been interesting to see how other records are popular now.
ER: I know it must be hard to pick, but what are your favourite records from the golden age of the ’80’s?
FD: I have very clear all time favorites which haven’t changed much for many years:
‘Lectric Workers – Robot is Systematic
Steel Mind – Bad Passion
B.W.H. – Stop/Living Up
Klapto – Mister Game
The Creatures – Spacefly/Solar Eclipse
Future State – Future State
Peter Richard – Walking In The Neon
Cellophane – Gimme Love
Trophy – Slow Flight
Charlie – Spacer Woman
ER: What do you think of the current crop of producers making Italo (or Nu-Italo?) these days? Which producers do you really rate?
FD: Until a few years ago I only focused on the original old classic from the ’80’s. Recently I found a lot of great new producers – here’s a few: Mark Wilkinson aka Kid Machine, David Vunk, Fred Ventura, James Penrose, Frederic Bergamaschi, Mike Salta, Michael Künzer/Aube Records, Edward Den Heijer/Iventi Records, Ken Dutrieue, Fredag I Firenze, Kai Lüdeling, Alden Tyrell, DJ Overdose, Ali Renault, Rude 66 and more…
ER: When you sit down to make one of your famous mixes, where do you begin?
FD: I always have sooo many ideas in my mind. I love to pick a theme and try to create a certain vibe/atmosphere. And I guess I’m pretty lucky to be able to select tracks from a unique and complete collection.
ER: Do you still DJ with vinyl? Have you gone digital yet?
FD: I’m addicted to vinyl.
ER: Are there any exciting new project in the pipeline?
FD: Well I’m working on lots of exciting new projects – for example with Steen Gjerulff, James Penrose, Kid Machine, Fred Ventura, Savino, Fredag I Firenze and Mike Salta.
ER: And would Flemming’s choice of breakfast be?
FD: Nice strong coffee
ER: Thanks so much for speaking with us Flemming!
Here we can, very proudly, present, Flemming Dalum’s exclusive electronic rumors mix, a jaw dropping hour of synthesizer goodness. There’s a few premières and surprises in there too. Stick some headphones on and take a hour out of your life to experience pure Italo.
♫ Flemming Dalum – Flemming Dalum Exclusive Mix For electronic rumors
The tracklist:
01. Kid Machine & Flemming Dalum – Test Demo. 1 (Unreleased And Exclusive For electronic rumors)02. The Creatures – Spacefly (CGD)
03. Marzio Dance – The Adventure (Xenon)
04. Go Nogo – Good Morning (C. Love’s Dungon reMix) (Emerald & Doreen Recordings)
05. Go Nogo – Good Morning (Marius Våreid reMix) (Emerald & Doreen Recordings)
06. Kid Machine – Sections (Exclusive Unreleased Demo.)
07. Radiorama – Desire (Out)
08. Aki – Tokio’s (Time)
09. Steel Mind – Bad Passion (Delirium)
10. Casionova – Space Commando (Exclusive Unreleased)
11. Hipnosis – Astrodance (Memory)
12. East Wall – Ice Of Fire (Elettrica Dischi)
13. J.D. Jaber – Don’t Stop Lovin’ (Memory)
14. The Creatures – Believe In Yourself (reMix )(Full Time)
15. Simon Bennett – My Sweet Dream (CGD)
16. D.Carred – You’ll Be A Winner (‘Lectric Dub By Flemming Dalum & Mike Salta) (Bordello A Parigi)
17. Alden Tyrell & Fred Ventura – Don’t Stop (Exclusive Upcoming Release On Disco Modernism)
18. Joe Yellow – Lover To Lover (Hole)
19. David Vunk – Disco Sysex (Moustache)
20. Bijou Productions – Special DJ Italo Trax 121 BPM (Exclusive Unreleased)
21. Sky Creackers – You Should Be Dancing (Memory)
22. Bijou Productions – Special DJ Italo Trax 122 BPM (Exclusive Unreleased)
23. Future State – Future State (Eyes)
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