Alberto Pietropoli, Alvise Cristinelli, Andrea Ventura, Enrico Giuliani, Natale Nitti, Roberto Caramelli
Central Unit, the Central European cult New Wave band based in Bologna. Formed in 1981, they were among the first in Italy to manipulate synthesizers, drum machines and other electronic devices (as far as we know they were one of the few bands capable of programming a Korg-KR55 drum machine) to create atmospheric soundscapes and were considered the Italian answer to Tuxedomoon. Central Unit released the 12” EP “Loving Machinery” in March 1982 with 4 songs, including a cover of “What Use?” of Tuxedomoon. The EP enters the Belgian and German charts for the first time with the single “Saturday Nite”, thanks to its skeletal electronic beats and minimal synth atmospheres, combined with mechanical bass lines and relentless bass digressions, with lazy murmurs of the saxophone peeping out here and there. Loving Machinery presented by a beautiful cover by the Frigidarian Carpinteri will be one of the most interesting things released in Italy in 1982, perhaps too inspired by Tuxedo Moon, but certainly very well prepared and concrete creators of a fascinating sound. Loving Machinery was originally printed in 1000 copies of which approximately 200 were destroyed by the storm that flooded our warehouse in Lido Adriano. In the future it will be reprinted in Italy and abroad. Central Unit still continues their activity (2024), you can contact them, below is the link to their website.
Their website
Their Facebook page
Copies for sale of the first pressing 1982 Discogs