Systems Breaking Down 12”

Reissue specialists Be With have a reputation for unearthing slept-on or hard-to-find gems. Their latest ‘find’ is Anna’s Systems Breaking Down, a fairly obscure, left-of-centre synth-pop cut that’s long been a favourite with Italo-disco DJs. This 12″ reissue includes both versions from the 1982 RCA 7″. The A-side boasts the skewed original, where Anna O’Malley’s stylish vocal and frustrated screams intermingle with sustained chords, chiming melodies and fuzzy, downtempo drum machine beats. The real killer, though, is the stripped-back flipside “Dance Remix”. Boasting less vocal, delay-laden drum hits and woozier chords, it’s this version that has long been a favourite amongst collectors.