DJ mix: Italy's Beppe Loda

This mix, from 1984, is the second-least current set that TONY has ever hosted—it's a 1984 session from the Italian vet Beppe Loda, made back when one had to record on an ancient medium know as "tape." And the absolute least current set we ever run was from—surprise!—Loda. But there's a reason that we're running mixes from an era before many clubbers were born: Loda is the eminently influential Italian who, through his work at clubs like Typhoon and Cosmic, pioneered what came to be known as the Afro sound, a swirling, psychedelic stew of synth material, African and other world rhythms, progressive rock and jazz, disco and plenty more. It's a sound that resonates today, and this beautiful mix, which leans heavily on the Afro side of the equation, is a prime example of the man at the height of his powers. As it happens, Loda is spinning four sets in Gotham this week: Dazzle Ships at Bellwether on Thursday, June 7; at the Body Actualized Center on Friday 8; It's a Tropical World at Zebulon on Saturday 9; and Nouveau York Presents Été d'Amour on Sunday 10. We'd advise attending all four for the full Beppe experience!