Hailing from Italy, PlusTwo has been on the forefront of the original, influential Italo-disco scene at the start of the 80s. The original nuclei of the band stems from the collaboration between Belen Thomas (Antonella Bianchi), Giorgio Costantini, Renzo Zulian, Marina Bianchi; not only partners in music, but in life, recalling the inter-personal dynamics of well-known Swedish combo ABBA.
The band members left their jazz and rock roots aside in favor of a new-wave sound, drenched in funky vibes and disco beats. It didn't take long before PlusTwo manage to stir quite a buzz about their music. Roman label "Mio Records" arranged some recording sessions in the city: the effort led to lead single "Melody" , released in a small 3000 copies run.
The single sells out in no time, thanks to the extensive support of local radios and tv stations. When things were starting to sound great (no pun intended), the label went bankrupt and the band members split up because of personal differences and relationship issues, in spite of "Melody" still going strong on the airwaves.
From innovation to retro elite.
Back when "Melody" was released, the sound was such a hit because of its novelty vibe and fun approach: It was all about a new language, a new scene. These days, the song enjoys a newfound appreciation, not only thanks to its undying freshness and appeal, but also because of its newly earned retro pop badge.
The sound of vintage synths, the idiosyncrasies of tape recordings and drum machine is now highly sought after by music producers and record collectors alike. "Melody", in particular, became a favorite of the European Italo dance revival scene, with copies of the only existing small run selling for over 450 dollars (the band members managed to earn just about 50 bucks each from their label at the time of the recordings!)
Sadly, the master tapes went lost and there was no chance to reissue the original. However, the band managed to turn a problem into an opportunity: PlusTwo set out to join forces again for a new version of "Melody", a vintage-mix created with the same arrangement and instrument samples.
Let the music tell you the rest of the store and find out more:
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