Tom “Diepvries” Schaek is the Belgian multi-man behind the Flexx record shop, label, blog and mix provider, investing italo electro-disco with the status of very much cult and still in-demand. With a now solid reputation built upon re-releasing the likes of Crazy Gang, Ozo, Pinneaples, Mr. Master, Twilight Ritual and Bobby Davenport, among others, Flexx hails from the small town of Turnhout, a mainly residential spot that is not exactly part of the Belgian three-city basic dance music circuit, which includes Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent.

Although the 26-year-old only started releasing records in 2005, it was 2002 when the idea of opening a shop like Flexx first stroke a then tired Tom, bored of doing a job he didn’t care for. “This was something I always wanted to do and I noticed Belgian record shops only sold ‘new’ music, so I wanted to fill the gap. It was just before the italo and disco revival over here”.

Licensing

Seeking vintage talents and labels with a similar taste did require some special efforts, though. “We’re always happy to find that the original artists still own the license to their songs. Usually when you have to deal with a major the project ends because for them the administrative burden in terms of obtaining the necessary consents, issuing parts etc. need to be weighed against the income likely to be generated by the licensing deal. In most cases, it’s not worth it for them, which is sad because there are lots of good tracks owned by majors that will never get pressed on vinyl again”, he declares.

more on Diepvries

Back in the peak of the “disco sucks” movement, Ted Nugent-adoring redneck crowds would promote “disco demolition derbys”, where they would proceed to torch piles of disco records. Brought to you by Camilo Rocha, Boogie Central’s “Disco Demolition Derby”* mixtape pays tribute to magnificent disco movement by “demolishing” it in a much more positive way: mixing, editing, juxtaposing and mashing up new and old disco interpretations. From the galactic bliss of Orlando Riva Sound to the symphonic sass of the Salsoul Orchestra, from the synthetic homages of Lindstrom & Prins Thomas to the shiny funkiness of Le Grand David, from the leftfield proto-garage of Loose Joints to the classic italo sounds of Klein & MBO, there is a bit of everything in here. You’ll also hear Chicken Lips, Giorgio Moroder, Jermaine Jackson, Donna Summer, Dinosaur, Padded Cell and, erm, The Glitter Band (funky as fuck, check it out!). Brazilians make two decisive contributions: Azymuth’s anthemic Jazz Carnival and Jorge Ben’s discofied samba Taj Mahal (which Rod Stewart stole for Do Ya Think I’m Sexy — Ben sued and won, you’ll be pleased to know).

1. MFSB — Love is the Message (12” remix) (Philadelphia Intl’, 1978)
2. Dinosaur — Kiss Me Again (beats) (Sire, 1978)
3. Donna Summer — Summer Fever (bits) (Casablanca, 1976)
4. Concorde Music Club — Models are not Angels (Le Grand David remix) (Stereofiction, 2003)
5. Salsoul Orchestra — Chicago Bus Stop (Salsoul, 1976)
6. Mock & Toof — Black Jub (Tiny Sticks, 2007)
7. Loose Joints — Is It All Over My Face (edit) (West End, 1980)
8. Phreek — I’m a Big Freak (R U 1 2) (groaning) (Atlantic, 1978)
9. Chicago — Street Player (Pseudo-Bucketheads edit) (CBS, 1979)
10. Orlando Riva Sound — Moonboots (edit) (Salsoul, 1977)
11. Padded Cell — Moon Menace (DC, 2007)
12. Roxy Music — Angel Eyes (12″ version) (vocals) (Polydor, 1979)
13. Cosmic Hoffmann — Space Disco (edit) (EMI-Electrola, 1982)
14. Alden Tyrell — Disco Lunar Module (Lindstrom & Prins Thomas remix) (Clone, 2005)
15. The Trammps — Zing Went the Strings of My Heart (guitar) (Buddah, 1972)
16. Giorgio Moroder — From Here to Eternity (Oasis/Casablanca, 1977)
17. Chin Chin — Appetite (Chicken Lips Dub) (Dialect, 2007)
18. The Spirals — Permission to Fly (Darkroom Dubs, 2007)
19. Klein & MBO — Dirty Talk (USA Connection Instrumental) (25 West, 1982)
20. Gaz Nevada — IC Love Affair (vocals) (ZYX, 1983)
21. Michel Polnareff — Lipstick (Atlantic, 1976)
22. Klein & MBO — Dirty Talk (beats) (25 West, 1982)
23. Jermaine Jackson — Erucu (edit) (Tamla, 1976)
24. Azymuth — Jazz Carnival (Milestone, 1979)
25. First Choice — Let No Man Put Asunder (accappella) (Salsoul, 1983)
26. Mekon — Boy Bitten (Padded Cell remix) (PIAS/Wall of Sound, 2006)
27. Dinosaur — Kiss Me Again (edit) (Sire, 1978)
28. Le Grand David — Montre-Moi Ton Experience (Stereofiction, 2007)
29. Richard Dorfmeister & Madrid de los Austrias — Boogie No More (Reverso 68 remix) (G-Stone, 2007)
30. Donna Summer — Summer Fever (edit) (Casablanca, 1976)
31. Dinosaur — Kiss Me Again (beats) (Sire, 1978)
32. Vernon Burch — Get Up (edit) (Chocolate City, 1979)
33. Glitter Band — Makes You Blind (Bell, 1975)
34. Jorge Ben — Taj Mahal (Philips, 1977)

* Also available on Spannered.