In the world of instrumental Italo Disco there are two top-tier brands - Koto and Laserdance. If Koto set the atmospheric, hypnotic line of the genre, Laserdance is the energetic, straightforward, almost aggressive sound of a cosmic future. Their tracks have remained a space disco standard for decades, and their influence on current synthwave is hard to overstate. Here's one of the era's key instrumental projects.
Dutch Roots
Laserdance was founded in 1984 in the Netherlands. Behind the project stood two key producers - Erik van Vliet and Michiel van der Kuy. Both were experienced musicians and technicians, fascinated by early electronic music and the possibilities of new synths.
The fact that Laserdance are Dutch is an important detail. Most instrumental Italo Disco projects were, after all, Italian. The Dutch brought their own accents to the genre - a more technological, more "northern" approach to electronic music.
Humanoid Invasion: the Project's Manifesto
Laserdance's main early track is 1986's "Humanoid Invasion." The composition became their calling card and one of the classic works of space disco overall. A powerful synth bass, futurist melodic parts, tense rhythm - all of it builds the image of an incoming cosmic invasion.
The track got traction in European clubs, especially among DJs working with retro electronics. In the Eastern Bloc "Humanoid Invasion" became a listener favorite - in the USSR and Poland it played on a par with mainstream Italo Disco hits.
A Signature Sound
Laserdance had a recognizable sound, identifiable from the first bars:
- An aggressive synth bass. Harder than most Italo Disco projects - with a clear industrial tinge.
- Strong rhythmic accents. Straightforward, clear, almost techno-like.
- Cosmic effects. Specific "sonic décor" - whistles, lasers, melodic runs.
- Minimal vocals. Almost all tracks are fully instrumental.
- Faster tempos. Often above 130 BPM, closer to early hard dance.
Power Run and the Album Era
1989's "Power Run" is another key track of the project. Later, more polished, showing Laserdance's evolution toward more modern sonic solutions. Here you can already feel elements of the coming Eurodance, though the base remains within space disco.
During this period the project worked actively in album format. "Laserdance" (1987), "Around the World" (1988), "Future Generation" (1989) - all these albums offered full-scale concepts in instrumental form. For a genre oriented toward singles, it was a serious approach.
Difference From Koto
Comparing Laserdance and Koto is an interesting exercise. Both projects work in space disco, both are instrumental, both build "cosmic" moods. But aesthetically they differ:
- Koto - atmospheric, meditative, with hypnotic repetitions.
- Laserdance - energetic, straightforward, with an emphasis on danceability.
That difference enriches the whole sub-genre. The listener has a choice - to meditate or to move. Both projects satisfy different requests.
Dutch Electronic Tradition
Laserdance stand in the broader Dutch electronic music tradition. By the mid-'80s the Netherlands had a strong electronic scene - from experimental Tonewerks to the dance industry. Laserdance absorbed these influences and added Italo Disco aesthetics.
That puts them in an interesting position - a hybrid of Italian and Dutch approaches to dance electronics. Not pure Italo Disco, but close. Not pure Dutch pop electronics, but with its elements. A unique stylistic mix.
DJ Love
Like Koto's work, Laserdance tracks became a required part of sets by DJs specializing in retro electronic music. "Humanoid Invasion," "Power Run," "Shotgun" - these are standard numbers at Italo Disco parties and in sets dedicated to the '80s.
The functional value of these tracks is one reason for their long life. They're not just "listened to" as retro - they actually work on the dance floor. DJs use them not out of nostalgia but because they provide the needed energy and audience reaction.
Transition Into the '90s
In the '90s Laserdance adapted to the new musical landscape. Their recordings of that period are closer to trance, dance, and early progressive music. It was natural development - the space disco genre was moving into a niche, and the project was looking for new forms of existence.
The albums "Strikes Back" (1990), "Cosmic Flight" (1991), "Hypermagic" (1992) show this evolution. The music becomes more current, but signature "laser" elements are preserved. It's a transitional period, important for understanding the project's history.
Erik van Vliet: the Main Voice
Over the years, the main person behind the project became Erik van Vliet. Michiel van der Kuy moved away from direct participation, Erik kept releasing material and sustaining the brand. That's a typical story for producer projects - first a team, then a main author.
Van Vliet works actively today. He releases new recordings under the Laserdance name, tours retro festivals, collaborates with other artists of the current space disco scene.
Influence on Synthwave
The current synthwave movement openly inherits the Laserdance aesthetic. Artists Kavinsky, Mitch Murder, Lazerhawk, Gunship directly reference the Dutch project as a source of inspiration.
It isn't a surface influence. Specific structural elements of Laserdance - aggressive bass, signature melodic parts, "laser" effects - became a standard for current retro aesthetics in electronic music. 2010s synthwave is effectively a grandchild of '80s space disco.
Catalog Today
Over their existence, Laserdance released over 15 studio albums and dozens of singles. That's a huge catalog by instrumental-genre standards. For the collector there's lots of work here - original '80s vinyl releases, '90s reissues, modern compilations.
Prices for original Laserdance records on Discogs range from 30 to 200 euros, depending on rarity and condition. The most valuable releases are early singles and promo versions. Modern reissues are available at reasonable prices, which makes getting to know the project convenient.
A Place in the Genre
Laserdance is one of the defining projects of the instrumental branch of Italo Disco and space disco. Without them this sub-genre would look completely different. They showed that electronic dance music can be energetic, straightforward, futurist - without compromise toward the mainstream.
For any serious Italo Disco lover, getting to know Laserdance is required. This isn't a peripheral project but one of the era's key voices, even in the specific instrumental form.
Laserdance in 2024
The project continues active work. Erik van Vliet in 2023 released the album "Reloaded Classics" - a rethinking of Laserdance's main hits in modern arrangements. It's a rare case when an artist works with his legacy calmly, without turning it into cheap nostalgia.
According to Spotify, the "Space Disco Essentials" playlist with tracks by Laserdance, Koto, and other projects held the top 20 of the platform's electronic retro selections in 2024 - more than 1.5 million unique listeners monthly. A genre considered niche in the '80s found its global streaming audience forty years later. And Laserdance in that audience is one of the central artists.