Body Electric – Magic Electronic

BODY ELECTRIC – Magic Electronic 12”EP NL 2010 MST 014 5 Tracks 25'48''

BODY ELECTRIC’s „Magic Electronic“ and „5595“ are truly masterpieces of electropop/italo disco. Originally released in 1984 as a 7“ on Danish label Harlekin (HMK 1319), Steen Gjerulff’s electropop project BODY ELECTRIC now sees a „re-issue“ on Dutch electro/italo label Moustache Records. Steen used a Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus, Roland Jupiter-4 Analog Synthesizer, Simmons SDS-V and Micromoog Analog Synthesizer to create the two high-class electropop-italo gems which were now co-produced, remixed and arranged by italo disco luminary Flemming Dalum, well-known for his unique italo mixes. You will find a ’84 version of „Magic Electronic“ which, in Anna’s humble opinion, is not identical with the 7“ version – the bass drum has been pumped up over the maximum (why only?) and the vocals sound different, too. Nonetheless, this track is still amazing, of course, the mix questionable though. Then there is an „Extended“ version which is mainly instrumental and in which the bass drum is eased for good, still making this a dancefloor track. The „Extended Vocoder“ version which is a bit more electronica and space-y, and a „Reflexions“ version that is a kinda a easy, chill-out alike, as well as „5595“ (which has also been remixed). Anyway, this track could have also been a track by IKO ’83. It appears to be a miracle why the original versions were not included, and a shame, too, as it is understood that the tracks have lost some of their original charm (in „favor“ of some dance beats), anyway, this is better than nothing, no?