BATTISTINO — Il Segreto EP

Battistino – IL SEGRETO EP arrives on Mondo Groove as catalog MGMS26, a 12-inch vinyl that delves into a hybrid of disco, Italo house and classic Italo Disco. The release marks the first chapter of a conceptual trilogy set on the early-1980s Italian Riviera, where the music acts as a recovered document from an undisclosed affair. Battistino, the alias of Marco Battistini, channels the aesthetic of late-70s disco and French electro through a contemporary lens, offering a textured sonic palette that sidesteps pure nostalgia. Within Mondo Groove’s recent output, MGMS26 follows a string of releases that have explored the label’s penchant for retro-futurist dance music. Earlier in the year the label issued Angelo Bass – KISSES AT MIDNIGHT 12″ (MGMS25) and Daniele Baldelli & Mattia Dallara – COSMIC VOODOO – RITE 3 EP (MGCV03), both of which leaned into cosmic synth-driven grooves. The progression from those releases to Battistino’s EP underscores Mondo Groove’s ongoing dialogue between vintage disco sensibilities and modern production techniques. Side A opens with “Confidenza”, a track that evokes the hush of a secretive conversation, its title suggesting an intimate exchange that sets a reflective tone for the EP. It is followed by “L'ultima cena”, whose title hints at a final gathering, creating a narrative arc that moves from whispered confidence to a culminating moment. On the flip side, “La Disco Segreta” continues the theme of hidden narratives, its name conjuring an underground dance floor where the music is a clandestine ritual. The record closes with “Confidenza (N.O.I.A. RMX)”, a reinterpretation that reframes the opening piece, offering a fresh perspective while maintaining the EP’s cohesive atmosphere. The EP sits within Battistino’s emerging catalogue as a continuation of his approach to melding driving synth grooves and pulsating basslines with a physical, textured sound. While no earlier releases by Battistino appear in the supplied data, the project’s alignment with the label’s aesthetic and its conceptual ambition position it as a notable entry in the current underground disco resurgence. For DJs, the record provides two distinct moods: the A-side tracks lend themselves to warm-up or early-set moments where subtle narrative development is prized, while the B-side offers a deeper, more enigmatic groove suitable for late-night peaks. The N.O.I.A. remix, in particular, supplies a versatile tool for re-contextualising the EP’s central motif within a broader set. The release is pressed as a standard 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of Mondo Groove’s recent output and catering to collectors who value the tactile experience of analog playback. Battistino – IL SEGRETO EP, Mondo Groove, catalog MGMS26, 12-inch vinyl, four tracks. Tracklist: A1. Battistino – Confidenza A2. Battistino – L'ultima cena B1. Battistino – La Disco Segreta B2. Battistino – Confidenza (N.O.I.A. RMX)