Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Techno revolution, 2 May 2005
Vitalic is the musical personality of the Frenchman, Pascal Arbez-Nicolas, whose experimental form of electronic dance production is increasingly stirring the waters of the DJ scene. Rather than sampling musical instruments or the vocals of 1980s power-ballads, Vitalic relies on an innovative use of the synthesizer and therefore is a new advert for the creative talents of dance production. Indeed, from the opening track, 'Polkamiatic', Vitalic's musical art effectively drags the listener into a chaotic circus of electronic sound. However, Ok Cowboy rapidly descends into an underground of industrial techno, epitomised by the dark and sinister undertones of 'Poney Part One' and 'La Rock 01'. Even so, Vitalic's experimentation is notably effective in 'My Friend Dario', a pulsating electro-rock anthem which would shake the foundations of any euphoric dance theatre. A must for budding DJs and underground dance enthusiasts, Ok Cowboy rebukes the notion that dance music is dead. Conversely, it is enduring a process of creative evolution.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ride on Cowboy, 19 May 2005
Now this is what I call a dance album. Make no mistake O.K. Cowboy deserves its place in silver shimmering dance floor heaven along with "Leftism", "Homework" and "The Techno Rose of Blighty" which is still my all time favourite. While it lacks that masterpieces giddy organic grace and is a little too predictable at times, relying too much on those mid and high range synth sounds , it's an absolute treat to listen to. Listening to the album whilst writing this I had declare anything within a ten foot range of my computer desk a cup of tea free zone as I was in grave danger of sloshing it everywhere jigging about in my chair .
There is the massive and pulverising "La Rock 01" which has been a centrepiece of many a D.J. set since the release of the "Poney" E.P. in 2001.I, ve often wondered what a cement mixer tap dancing on aluminium in a wind tunnel would sound like and now I know. Equally propulsive is the latest single "My Friend Dario". This is so powerful it gave me an attack of fremitus which is not good when you're swallowing half masticated Garibaldi but is great if you want to bounce around the room like you've just stepped on a giant mousetrap. There's lot's more in this vein which is terrific but there is also by way of variety the cheesily melodic "Polkamatic" or the lovely "The Past" which sounds like The Future Sound Of London doing the soundtrack to "Bladerunner". The shimmering malleable synths on "Poney Part 2" are fantastic and the generally incomprehensible vocal bits and bats on tracks like "Repair Machines" or "Newman" compliment the music rather than overpower it or get in the way too much.Even the madcap percussive extremes of "Valleta Fanjares" which is like Cozy Powell on fast forward does,nt grate too much.
Vitalic also resists the urge, as is so often the case with dance albums to let tracks go on too long. "La Rock 01" is the longest at 5.26 which with a track that fantastic is hardly a problem .This is the album that LCD Soundsystem should have made and only managed in parts, a colossal stomping behemoth of an album that doesn't break any new ground as far as dance is concerned but just says what the hell, reinforce those floorboards, pin back your ears and lubricate your joints this isn't going to hurt a bit. The best fun you, ll have all year that doesn't involve silk bed sheets, heated baby oil and naughty night attire.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
certainly no cowboy..., 27 April 2005
For starters the guy in question here ain't no techno cowboy. Having released the Pony EP in 2001 at the height of the genre of electoclash, many house-heads were predicting that Vitalic (originally from Ukraine) would follow in the footsteps of Felix Da Housecat, Miss Kittin and all the other trashy purveyors of the scene.However this proved to be a fad. Instead Vitalic settled down in France (where he grew up) and spent a good four years perfecting his debut album. What becomes apparent straight away is that Vitalic is now belonging to this very great line of French exports like Air, Etienne De Crecy and Daft Punk. That latter name bears more significance than anyone could have thought because as Daft Punk made their latest LP 'Human After All' in just six weeks, the results were definitely mixed as half of it sounded hurried and brash. But when the dynamite of 'My Friend Dario' explodes from a pair of well wired-up speakers, Vitalic is the dynamic force carrying the baton now for French Disco - more than a mere name to drop - the tracks here back this claim up. There are the downtempo experiments needed to balance out the headrush of tracks like 'No Fun'. For example opener 'Polkmatic' and post-modern track 'The Past' are layered with breathtaking sequential synths sounding like the perfect pulse-rate. All of the killer singles are there, making this the perfect all-round document to get started on Vitalic. The trademark sound is maintained all way through giving this the deserved 5 stars above.
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