Ventura, Fred

***A reissue of the 1985 Italo Disco “The Years (Go By)” 12-inch from FRED VENTURA. Features the backing cut “Streets” (All Right),” along with alterante mixes. “Since the early 1980's FRED VENTURA has released numerous singles in Europe and toured the world extensively as a solo artist. Last year, JOHNNY JEWEL was in Bologna on tour with Desire and Fred came out to the show to drink Champagne and bring us some copies of the reissued tapes of Fred's early Post Punk group STATE OF ART. The lightbulb lit up and we asked him if he had any home recordings of his solo work. Months later, he sent us 83 tracks of cassette recordings between 1982 & 1987. They had been sitting upstairs in a dusty box at his parents house in Italy for the last 25 years. These tracks have only been heard by a handful of his closest friends. We were completely floored and honored! Finding a beautiful treasure completely untouched and preserved is so rare. The songs are raw and honest written by a romantic with a love for an anthemic chorus and a drum machine running through his veins. Think early minimal Depeche Mode with an Italian heart. Or New Order covering Madonna produced Moroder. Yes, it's that good. Here we have the first official Italians Do It Better release of these songs on a 4-song 12-inch EP. This vinyl only release is a teaser for the Don't Give Up 18-track LP out in a couple of months. So in the meantime, slip on those Gucci loafers, rev up the Alfa Romeo and head down to the discotheque because life is too short.”