Hard Work by Robi Insinna: A Gritty, Glitchy Love Letter to Disco and Electro
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—Robi Insinna didn’t come to play with Hard Work. This 2018 banger from Switzerland slaps harder than most electronic albums you’ve probably forgotten about. Released under Industria, it’s a raw, unfiltered dive into the guts of disco and electro that feels like getting punched in the chest by a robot wearing glitter gloves. Yeah, it’s messy, loud, and kinda genius.
The title track, “Hard Work,” is where Insinna flexes his muscles. It’s relentless, man—a pulsating beat that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. The bassline? Pure filth. Like, if this song were a person, it’d be sweating on a dancefloor at 3 AM, yelling something unintelligible but oddly inspiring. You remember this track because it’s not just music—it’s an experience. Every layer builds up until your brain can’t process anything else except MOVE. And then there’s the breakdown. Oh, sweet chaos. That moment when everything drops out and all you’re left with is this eerie synth line? Goosebumps. Actual goosebumps.
Then we’ve got “Hard Work (Die Wilde Jagd Remix).” If the original was a punch, this remix is a full-on haymaker. Die Wilde Jagd takes Insinna’s blueprint and turns it into some kind of psychedelic fever dream. The drums hit harder, the synths swirl around like they’re trying to escape, and suddenly you’re not even sure what year it is anymore. This version sticks with you because it flips the script without losing the soul of the original. It’s like hearing the same story told by two completely different people—and both versions are fire.
Now, I’ll admit, tracks like “Some Believe” and “Oct17” feel more like interludes compared to the heavy hitters, but they still bring their own vibe. They give you breathing room before the next sonic assault. But honestly, who needs breathing room when you’ve got killer tunes like these?
Here’s the kicker though—this album shouldn’t work as well as it does. It’s rough around the edges, almost intentionally so. Some transitions feel abrupt, and yeah, maybe a few moments could’ve used another mix pass. But screw perfection. What makes Hard Work unforgettable is its attitude. It’s like Robi Insinna looked at the polished, overproduced crap flooding the scene and said, “Nah, let’s do the opposite.” And holy hell, did it pay off.
So here’s my hot take: if you’re looking for background music while sipping coffee, skip this. But if you want something that’ll make your heart race and your feet move whether you like it or not, grab Hard Work. Just don’t blame me when your neighbors start complaining about the noise.
Oh, and one last thing—why isn’t Switzerland churning out more artists like Robi Insinna? Seriously, what’s going on over there? Fix it.
