Artist page · 07/07/2026

Koto

ItalyBandes originales (Films séries jeux…)13 vinyl albums
Koto is an Italian synth pop group formed in the 1980s, known for italo disco and electronic music, with a catalog covering electro, funk, and ambient genres.
Explore the discography The 3 must-haves
13Albums on Vinyles.com
566Discogs releases
68kLast.fm listeners

About

14 vinyl releases spanning 1983 to 2025, with key tracks like "Jabdah" and "Dragon's Legend" remixed by ZYX label.

Koto emerged from Italy in the early 80s, created by composer Anfrando Maiola and producer Stefano Cundari under Memory Records. The project gained success with singles such as "Chinese Revenge" (1983), "Visitors" (1985), and "Jabdah" (1986), rooted in Italo disco and spacesynth styles. In 1989, the German label ZYX Music acquired the Memory Records catalog and tasked Michiel Van der Kuy with remixing Koto tracks and launching new albums under the name, including "Masterpieces" (1989) and "Synthesizer World Hits" (1990).

Maiola later regained control of the Koto name to continue releasing music like "Koto is Still Alive" (2001).

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Koto's career.

01
Jabdah
·
02
Visitors
·
03
Dragon's Legend
·
04
Chinese Revenge
·
05
Time
·
06
Japanese War Game
·
07
La parole c'est le pouvoir
·
08
Crockett's Theme
·

The essentials

The 3 Koto albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 2022
Vinyle
Chinese Revenge

A seminal track from 1983, "Chinese Revenge" is a cornerstone Italo disco record integral to Koto's sound, reissued by ZYX in 2022.

Reissue 2022ZYX labelSingle track focus
Discover the album
#2 · 2024
Vinyle
Dragon's Legend

Released by ZYX in 2024, this title represents Koto's continued impact on Italo disco and funk genres, featuring remixed classics.

2024 releaseZYX labelFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco genre
Discover the album
#3 · 2023
Vinyle
Jabdah

"Jabdah" is a 1986 track with enduring popularity in the Italo disco scene, famously remixed and released on vinyl by ZYX in 2023.

2023 reissueZYX labelPop genre
Discover the album

Go further

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Artists who share part of Koto's musical DNA.

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Eddy Huntington
Radiorama

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Koto

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

Koto is an Italian 80's synth pop group known for their italo disco vibes and iconic tracks.
— Editorial overview
01Origins

Koto's first release "Chinese Revenge" in 1983

The project by Anfrando Maiola debuted with "Chinese Revenge" in 1983, establishing a distinctive synth pop sound within Italo disco.

1983Italy
02Label acquisition

ZYX Music acquires Memory Records catalog in 1989

In 1989, German label ZYX Music took over Memory Records and commissioned Michiel Van der Kuy to remix Koto's tracks, producing new albums named after the band.

1989Germany
03Remixes

Michiel Van der Kuy remixes "Masterpieces" in 1989

"Masterpieces" was one of the Koto albums remixed by producer Michiel Van der Kuy after ZYX acquired the catalog, contributing to renewed interest in the project.

1989Germany
04Continued releases

Anfrando Maiola resumes Koto releases in 2001

After a period of remixes and label changes, Maiola reclaimed Koto in 2001, releasing new music including "Koto is Still Alive" and "Blow the Whistle" in 2003.

2001Italy

Records by Koto

See all
Acknowledge - Front Cover Acknowledge - Front Cover

Acknowledge

Koto
Electro
ZYX
From $26.04 2 offers
Dragon's Legend - Front Cover

Dragon's Legend

Koto
Eurodisco Funk/Soul/R&B/Disco
ZYX
From $25.00 2 offers
Koto Plays Science Fiction Movie Themes - Front Cover

Koto Plays Science Fiction Movie Themes

Koto
Film Music Soundtracks (Films, series, games, etc.)
ZYX
From $26.04 1 offer
Jabdah - Front Cover

Jabdah

Koto
International Pop Pop
ZYX
From $36.50 2 offers
From The Dawn Of Time - Front Cover

From The Dawn Of Time

Koto
Electro
ZYX
From $24.85 1 offer
Return Of The Dragon - Front Cover

Return Of The Dragon

Koto
Disco Funk/Soul/R&B/Disco
ZYX
From $22.46 1 offer
Chinese Revenge - Front Cover

Chinese Revenge

Koto
Disco Funk/Soul/R&B/Disco
ZYX
From $22.50 1 offer
Japanese war game - Front Cover

Japanese war game

Koto
Techno Electro
ZYX
From $27.12 2 offers
Plays synthesizer world hits - Front Cover

Plays synthesizer world hits

Koto
Synthwave Electro
ZYX
From $35.75 1 offer
Greatest hits & remixes - Front Cover

Greatest hits & remixes

Koto
Eurodisco Funk/Soul/R&B/Disco
ZYX
From $19.37 1 offer
Masterpieces - Front Cover

Masterpieces

Koto
Eurodisco Funk/Soul/R&B/Disco
zyx/gdc
From $35.75 1 offer
The Koto Mix - Front Cover

The Koto Mix

Koto
Synthwave Electro
even
View details
Chinese Revenge (Asia-Version) - Front Cover

Chinese Revenge (Asia-Version)

Koto
French Electro / French Touch Electro
even
View details
Visitors - Front Cover

Visitors

Koto
Ambient Electro
even
View details

Recommended accessories

To protect, store and clean your records.

All accessories

FAQ

FAQ

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

Who founded Koto and when was their first single released?

Koto was founded by Italian composer Anfrando Maiola; their first single "Chinese Revenge" came out in 1983.

What genres does Koto's vinyl catalog cover?

Koto's vinyl spans Italo disco, synth pop, electro, funk, soul, and ambient genres.

Which labels have released Koto vinyl records in France?

In France, Koto vinyl has been released mainly through the label ZYX, known for italo disco collections.

Can you find Koto vinyl at French record shops?

Yes, Koto vinyl can often be found in French record shops specializing in Italo disco and electro genres.

What are some of Koto's top vinyl tracks to listen to?

Top tracks include "Jabdah", "Visitors", "Dragon's Legend", and "Chinese Revenge".

Are Koto vinyl records mainly reissues or original pressings?

Many Koto vinyl records available today are reissues by labels like ZYX, with some original 80s pressings being rare collector items.

Why is Koto important in Italo disco history?

Koto helped shape the Italo disco sound with synth-driven hits from the 80s, influencing spacesynth and electronic music genres.

What formats of Koto vinyl exist for collectors?

Koto vinyl exists in various formats including singles, EPs, and LPs, with some releases on 7", 12", and 180g vinyl.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

  • WP
    Wikipedia
    Encyclopaedic data and biography
    ↗
  • MB
    MusicBrainz
    Artist metadata, dates, type
    ↗
  • DG
    Discogs
    Discography, pressings and market prices
    ↗
  • LF
    Last.fm
    Listeners, plays, similar artists
    ↗
  • VC
    Vinyles.com
    In-house catalog, prices and availability
    ↗

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 07/07/2026