Koto (band)
Encyclopedia
Koto is an Italian
synth pop group that originally consisted of Anfrando Maiola and Stefano Cundari, later with the Dutch composer Michiel van der Kuy.
", on the ZYX Records label. The following year, Cundari and Zanni formed "Memory Records" and re-released "Chinese Revenge". The single proved to be very popular in Italy, selling over 10,000 copies. It also proved to be a minor hit in Germany and the Netherlands.
After the success of "Chinese Revenge", they began writing songs for other bands, including Baby's Gang (Happy Song, Challenger), and helped fellow Italian band "Hipnosis
" cover Vangelis' song "Pulstar". It was released in 1983, going Top 10 in Germany and Top 20 in Switzerland. The same year, Maiola and Cundari released another single "Japanese War Game
", under the Koto name, which became another hit.
In 1985, Koto released "Visitors", and today is considered one of the best Italo-disco songs. In an interview with Maiola, he confirmed it was his favourite Koto song. The track contains a sample from Michael Jackson's 1984 hit "Thriller". The following year, he released another single "Jabdah". Fuelled by a music video, the song became a big hit, charting in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Around this time, critics coined the term "spacesynth", which combines elements of italo-disco and space disco. "Visitors" and "Jabdah" are considered part of the genre. In 1987, a megamix was released, combining elements of their previous four singles.
By now, house and techno music was becoming popular, and italo-disco begun to decline in popularity. Nevertheless, Koto released another single, "Dragon's Legend". Containing samples from the video game "Dragon's Lair", the song proved a minor hit in the Netherlands, peaking at No. 28. By now, "Memory Records" began running into financial problems. In 1989, they remixed their debut single, "Chinese Revenge", for a more dance flavour and Maiola composed his next single under the Koto name, the house flavoured, "Champion's Cue". The song was not as popular as their previous singles, as "Memory Records" began releasing New Beat and House records. This did not prove a success, and "Memory Records" went broke.
The rights to "Memory Records", were snapped up by "ZYX Records". They asked Dutch-composer Michiel van der Kuy (of the band Laserdance
, best known for their 1986 hit single "Humanoid Invasion") to remix some of Koto's songs. Soon after, he began composing songs under the Koto name, including "Time", "Minoan War" and "Plain". In the following years, he released more singles, including "Acknowledge" (1990), "Mechanic Sense" (1992) and "Mind Machine" (1992). The main melody of "Mind Machine" was clearly inspired by the song "Disco Maniac" by "Denise & Baby's Gang".
He also released a full-length LP, "From The Dawn Of Time" in 1992, and two cover albums in 1990 and 1993. After this, Koto fell silent. During this period, it has been revealed that Stefano Cundari died.
In 2001, Maiola bought back the rights to the Koto name, and has released three more singles under that alias. He is now working with Roberto Bisca and Alex Cundari to compose new songs. Their first five singles are included on many italo-disco and 80's compilations and retrospectives.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
synth pop group that originally consisted of Anfrando Maiola and Stefano Cundari, later with the Dutch composer Michiel van der Kuy.
History
In 1982, Italian musician Anfrando Maiola (b. 1954 in Parma, Italy) teamed up with Stefano Cundari and Alessandro Zanni and released their first single "Chinese RevengeChinese Revenge
Chinese Revenge is a song performed by Italian synth-pop group Koto. Released in 1982, it was their debut single. Composed by Anfrando Maiola, and produced by Stefano Cundari and Alessandro Zanni, it proved a big hit in Italy, selling over 10,000 copies. Unlike Koto's next batch of singles,...
", on the ZYX Records label. The following year, Cundari and Zanni formed "Memory Records" and re-released "Chinese Revenge". The single proved to be very popular in Italy, selling over 10,000 copies. It also proved to be a minor hit in Germany and the Netherlands.
After the success of "Chinese Revenge", they began writing songs for other bands, including Baby's Gang (Happy Song, Challenger), and helped fellow Italian band "Hipnosis
Hipnosis
Hipnosis , were an Italian synthpop group, best remembered for their cover of Vangelis' track "Pulstar", which went Top 10 in Germany and Top 20 in Switzerland in 1983...
" cover Vangelis' song "Pulstar". It was released in 1983, going Top 10 in Germany and Top 20 in Switzerland. The same year, Maiola and Cundari released another single "Japanese War Game
Japanese War Game
Japanese War Game is a single released by Koto in 1983. Composed by Maiola and produced by Cundari, it served as their second single. The most distinguishable feature of the track is a driving bassline, created by a TR 808 BassLine Sequencer....
", under the Koto name, which became another hit.
In 1985, Koto released "Visitors", and today is considered one of the best Italo-disco songs. In an interview with Maiola, he confirmed it was his favourite Koto song. The track contains a sample from Michael Jackson's 1984 hit "Thriller". The following year, he released another single "Jabdah". Fuelled by a music video, the song became a big hit, charting in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Around this time, critics coined the term "spacesynth", which combines elements of italo-disco and space disco. "Visitors" and "Jabdah" are considered part of the genre. In 1987, a megamix was released, combining elements of their previous four singles.
By now, house and techno music was becoming popular, and italo-disco begun to decline in popularity. Nevertheless, Koto released another single, "Dragon's Legend". Containing samples from the video game "Dragon's Lair", the song proved a minor hit in the Netherlands, peaking at No. 28. By now, "Memory Records" began running into financial problems. In 1989, they remixed their debut single, "Chinese Revenge", for a more dance flavour and Maiola composed his next single under the Koto name, the house flavoured, "Champion's Cue". The song was not as popular as their previous singles, as "Memory Records" began releasing New Beat and House records. This did not prove a success, and "Memory Records" went broke.
The rights to "Memory Records", were snapped up by "ZYX Records". They asked Dutch-composer Michiel van der Kuy (of the band Laserdance
Laserdance
Laserdance is a Dutch spacesynth-project that was popular in the 1980s with hits such as "Laserdance", "Power Run" and "Humanoid Invasion". Laserdance was the project of the Dutch producers Michiel Van der Kuy and Erik van Vliet...
, best known for their 1986 hit single "Humanoid Invasion") to remix some of Koto's songs. Soon after, he began composing songs under the Koto name, including "Time", "Minoan War" and "Plain". In the following years, he released more singles, including "Acknowledge" (1990), "Mechanic Sense" (1992) and "Mind Machine" (1992). The main melody of "Mind Machine" was clearly inspired by the song "Disco Maniac" by "Denise & Baby's Gang".
He also released a full-length LP, "From The Dawn Of Time" in 1992, and two cover albums in 1990 and 1993. After this, Koto fell silent. During this period, it has been revealed that Stefano Cundari died.
In 2001, Maiola bought back the rights to the Koto name, and has released three more singles under that alias. He is now working with Roberto Bisca and Alex Cundari to compose new songs. Their first five singles are included on many italo-disco and 80's compilations and retrospectives.
Discography
- Chinese RevengeChinese RevengeChinese Revenge is a song performed by Italian synth-pop group Koto. Released in 1982, it was their debut single. Composed by Anfrando Maiola, and produced by Stefano Cundari and Alessandro Zanni, it proved a big hit in Italy, selling over 10,000 copies. Unlike Koto's next batch of singles,...
(1982) - Japanese War GameJapanese War GameJapanese War Game is a single released by Koto in 1983. Composed by Maiola and produced by Cundari, it served as their second single. The most distinguishable feature of the track is a driving bassline, created by a TR 808 BassLine Sequencer....
(1983) - VisitorsVisitors (Koto song)Visitors is a 1985 italo-disco song recorded by Italian group Koto. Composed by Maiola and produced by Cundari, it is considered one of the best songs in the italo-disco cannon. It contains a sample from "Michael Jackson's" 1984 hit, "Thriller"...
(1985) - JabdahJabdahJabdah is a song recorded by Italian synth-pop group Koto. Released in 1986, it was their first single that charted. It was written by Anfrando Maiola and produced by Stefano Cundari and Alessandro Zanni. The song reached No. 11 in Switzerland, No. 23 in Germany and No. 28 in the Netherlands. Like...
(1986) (Switzerland: 11, Germany: 23, Netherlands: 28) - The Koto Mix (1987)
- Dragon's LegendDragon's Legend"Dragon's Legend" was a song recorded by Italian synthpop group Koto. Released in 1988, it was their second and final single that charted, reaching No. 28 in the Netherlands. It contains samples from the 1983 video game Dragon's Lair. Later in the year, a remixed version called "Dragon's Megamix"...
(1988) (Netherlands: 28) - Time (1989)
- Champion's Cue (1990)
- Acknowledge (1990)
- Koto Plays Synthesizer World Hits (1990)
- From The Dawn Of Time (1992)
- Mechanic Sense (1992)
- Mind Machine (1992)
- Koto Plays Science-Fiction Movie Themes (1993)
- Koto Is Still Alive (2001)
- Blow The Whistle (2003)
- Planet X (2003)
- Strange Skies (2009)
External links
- Alternative Koto discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...