Photo:
Since the release of the much-lauded ‘Poney EP’ in 2001, a full-length release from techno guru Vitalic has been fervently anticipated within the dance fraternity. Nearly four years later, ‘OK Cowboy’ is finally here and boy does Mr Vitalic, a.k.a Pascal Arbez, do himself proud. Within the thirteen tracks Vitalic sculpts a complex, emotionally charged sonic landscape of often uncompromising, often stunningly gorgeous sounds. This is intelligent, thought-provoking dance music that will undoubtedly last for aeons – little wonder then that the great John Peel was a massive fan.
Opening with the hyperactive ‘Polkamanic’, Arbez lulls the listener into a false sense of security for what is otherwise a mainly dark album. High-pitched and buoyant with a slight sinister undertone, the opener conjures up images of circus music, of the Papa Lazarou variety, of course. The mood truly turns gloomy with the concept track of sorts ‘Poney Part 1’, which is the sound of Daft Punk gone evil. Written from the perspective of a fairground pony that lives its wretched life dressed in gaudy attire while onlookers mock it, the deep, relentless music perfectly echoes the disturbing subject matter. Together with the brutal, serotonin inducing ‘Poney Part 2’, Vitalic manages to create a rare thing – electronic music that strikes a chord and provokes an emotion within the listener.
Elsewhere, recent single ‘My Friend Dario’ and the ubiquitous club anthem ‘La Rock 01’ with its hammering, swooning beats and atmospherics continues the cavernous, sinister tone. Yet, fortunately, Vitalic does not rely on simply regurgitating the same blueprint throughout the album. ‘Nooo’, for example, may lack the depth of some other tracks, but with its almost jovial, bleeping electro qualities, it provides a perfect respite from the mayhem elsewhere. ‘Repair Machines’, also, is sheer electronic euphoria that gently builds over a looped vocal, while ‘Trahison’ is perhaps the most sublime piece of ambient electronica you’re likely to hear in a while.
Despite the snare-drum centred final track, ‘Valletta Fanfares’, being a tad disappointing, we can forgive Vitalic for such a minor slip because predominantly the man has constructed some of the most exquisite techno music you’re likely to hear this, or any year. Admittedly unlikely to sway indie purists away from their penned-in ways, for anyone with leanings towards electronica or dance music, ‘OK Cowboy’ is, excuse the pun, absolutely vital.
