Preview An Essential New Compilation Of Rare Italo Disco Tunes From '80s Yugoslavia

Socialist Disco – Dancing Behind Yugoslavia’s Velvet Curtain 1977 -1987 is a new compilation that you should hear.

Over the last couple of years, there has been a revived interest in the dance music created in former socialist countries. The stories of synths being smuggled over borders to record cosmic records and idiosyncratic takes on Western pop musical forms—from industrial to aerobics music—make for inspiring listening and reading.

One genre that took a foothold in the former nation of Yugoslavia was disco. Loaded with innuendo, odd-ball lyrics, genre-hybrids and an infectious playfulness, the disco scene was utterly unique, and it still makes for a fascinating listen today. We’ve previously covered the five most essential (and obscure) cosmic disco bangers from this era, but it’s awesome to see that a new compilation is set to bring more of this golden age socialist disco to light.

Thanks to the hard work of the label Fox & His Friends, 18 essential hits from Yugoslavia’s disco heyday are now available on vinyl again. Socialist Disco – Dancing Behind Yugoslavia’s Velvet Curtain 1977-1987 takes a wide-screen view at the different styles, musicians and composers of the disco scene. It traces the development of the sound over 10 years.

Check out the preview for all 18 tracks above. You can grab the record from the Fox & His Friends Records website here. For more Eastern Bloc disco bangers, you should definitely check out this list as well and this mix by TEB’s own deputy editor Chloé Lula.