Vitalic

Subtleties are cast aside for a need for speed

Pascal Arbez’s (or Vitalic to you) burgeoning reputation in dance music and as a live act is not without reason.

His ‘Poney‘ E.P. released in 2001 caused shockwaves on dancefloors worldwide, it’s main track ‘La Rock’ transcending all genres becoming a classic in scenes as diverse as techno, hard house, electro and even omnipresent in indie clubs, he’s also becoming a top draw live act rivalling the premier league of dance acts.

Live, Vitalic’s unassuming workmanlike performance is the direct opposite of those of his Gallic peers such as the ostentatious light shows favoured by Justice or silly Daft Punk endorsed robot heads. Vitalic is obviously happier pushing the right buttons of both his laptop and his audience enveloped in a light video wall similar to that used by Radiohead of late, his heads down approach epitomises the attitude of the techno he makes.

Also at odds with his deliciously in your face take on techno is this sterile Ministry of Sound copy cat club at the O2. The Crystal Castle’s influenced electro dirt of ‘Your Disco Song’ demands a sweaty warehouse with feet sticking to the floor, not an anonymously big corridor serving shot like beers at four pounds.

The way he manages to fuse hard techno beats with metallic trance riffs is energising both genres as shown when he unleashes the the tension of ‘La Rock’ or the heavy metal guitar attack of ‘My Friend Dario’ or the swirling headfuck of ‘Newman’, all are embraced by a sea of pumping fists and furrowed techno brows, the sinister synth orchestrating people into a state nearing delerium.

Live, the subtleties of his second album ‘Flashmob’ are cast aside for a need for speed, a shot of something more aggressive, the pulsing Moroder-esque ‘Poison Lips’ is pitched up to a frenetic almost gabba-esque level, the crowd lap this up with the rest and by the look on his face…it’s totally expected, job done.

Words by Chris Todd

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