Over 25 years of digging, and more than 2 years in curation. @NickV ’s debut compilation pays homage to forgotten gems of the classic Italian House scene, circa 1991-1993. In the early 1990s, Italy hosted one of the most flourishing scenes in the burgeoning world of House music. Whilst the majority of Europe was only just beginning to digest the arrival of this new musical genre born in the US, Italian clubs, DJs and labels were hot on the heels of their counterparts in the already established scenes of New York and London. The clubs of the Adriatic coast – also known as the Italian Riviera – principally concentrated around Rimini and Riccione, were full every weekend with crowds gathering to dance long into the early hours of the morning.

The soundtrack was provided by the major US and UK acts from the day but also local resident DJs that had been honing their trade since the early 80s in the clubs and in the studio. By the early 90s, Italian House music was regularly exported around the world with labels such as UMM, Zippy, D-Vision, MBG, Flying, Palmares, DFC and Irma releasing tracks inspired by the original New York House and Garage sound, but with a very different, unique and emotional take. Distinct from both Italo Disco and Italo House, this was the specific aesthetic that was to become the House sound of the Riviera, the soundtrack of the golden era of Italian House music.