Pais Tropical – Melodya

Pais Tropical are perhaps not one of the best-known Italian house outfits from the «dream house» period of the late ’80s and early ’90s, but their sole release – 1990’s ‘Melodya’- is certainly one of the finest «overlooked gems» of that loved-up era. Sound Metaphors has spotted this, hence this welcome reissue on their reissue focused THANK YOU imprint. The A-side ‘Club Mix’ offers a perfect balance between Sueno Latino/Keys & Tronics Ensemble style melodious deep house and, thanks to (mock) acoustic guitar solos, Balearic house from the period. Over on the flip, the ‘Manaus Mix’ is a chunkier, more percussive take full of sustained chords and tropical noises, while the ‘Shockout Mix’ goes bigger on the piano motifs and New Jersey-influenced Italo-house vibes. Saucer-eyed perfection.