Jungle, jungle, magical dance
2008-07-04 by Kevvy K
Gepy & Gepy – African Love Song (Kotey Edit)
This has already seen a lot of blog coverage (blogerage?), but lord knows its a goodie and worth a re-up (which always sounds very sinister in a post-The Wire context) round these parts.
Steve ‘Fella’ Kotey, the Bear Funk (alas, nothing at all to do with big, hairy men) label boss gets his paws on a slightly silly, but irresistably chunk of more orchestral and less synthy Italo disco funk, with a bass line that sounds maddeninly familiar from somewhere, and liberally peppered with jungle noises and tribal drums in case anyone hadn’t caught on yet that this song was an homage to Africa, which gives Gepy and/or Gepy soul. Apparently. I wonder if anyone has done a study on whatever the African equivalent of Orientalism is on music like this.
You have two options of picking up a copy of this… on CD, you can pick it up up on the very excellent Strut compilation, Disco Italia compiled by Steve Kotey. As an occasional dabbler in the genre, I was very pleasantly surprised by how much it broadened my conception of the Italo sound. There’s a much better review on a track by track basis on the excellent Cosmic Disco blog that you can check out here. The CD comes with a full booklet containing photos, original sleeve artwork and extended notes by Bill Brewster.
The track featured here is also available on a 12” sampler that is out of stock in lots of places but you can still buy here. The 12” also features a track of Tullio De Piscopo of Balearic and DC fave Primavera (Stop Bajon).
Download MP3 (0:00min / 0MB)
Comments 
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Hello! First of all, congratulations by blog, are really interesting! Great album of Italo, I am a great lover of this sort as well as synth-pop (among others) thanks for the recommendation!
Greetings from BCN City!
I like the Firefly track on the album! Still looking for my favourite italo track on cd: 'Looking for love' by a guy named Tom Hooker.
Hey Kev –
I've not come across a word that corresponds to orientalism with regards to Africa, but I'm really interested in this – although I have to say not necessarily in relation to music.
I'm writing about that sort of thing for my Phd, I'm particularly interested in the use of Ancient Egypt by 'New Agers'. Sorry this reply had nothing to do with the tune, just your comment caught my eye.
Although the tune is excellent by the way! Mxxx
You guys are on fire lately on this blog. don't know if you saw this g reat Gepy & Gepy tune. All the Kevs on this blog should come down and check out our disco party this Friday the 18th at the Adaho Social Club on Ashwin street in Dalston. It's a secret, and it's free.
http://king-of-disco.blogspot.com/2008/06/gepy-gepy-body-to-body-1979.html
Wow that's some record sleeve they have there!
Ta very much for the invite out but I'm not gonna be able to make it down this week… will get out to one of your do's one day though!