Czech Electronic Music Pioneers to Get Wider Release

A newly launched UK music label is catching attention for its plan to reissue old pop, funk, disco, and synth acts from Eastern Europe, many of which languished in obscurity behind the Iron Curtain for years, unavailable to Western markets.

Having worked with big names like Karel Gott and Josef Laufer, ORM is the creative force behind countless hits of the era. But they also produced their own lesser-known records, featuring an electronic dance music sound that was wholly different from their more mainstream pop singles.

The new release, available on Bandcamp, is a compilation that includes tracks hand-picked by the label from four different albums released between 1979 and 1984.

Růžička and Dvořák recently gave an interview to on-line magazine The Vinyl Factory in which they revealed the story behind the infamous cover:

“The person is our old friend JUDr. Luboš Heteš. He was a noble man – quite literally as his blood had traces of aristocracy. He loved classical music and played the violin very well, although he worked as a lawyer all his life. We loved visiting him as he was really fun to be with. He’d always tell the same jokes – but every time we visited next, he’d ask – “have you heard this one?” Of course we had but we let him tell us for tenth time anyway and everyone was on the floor laughing. So we asked him if he could pose for the Diskofil cover. We were unsure if he would agree to it, but despite his reputable profession, he agreed.”