A Bit Of Ultra Violence

Vitalic
OK Cowboy
(Pias)

A Clockwork Orange is the bully of movies. You can’t just walk away from it; it follows you. Judging by OK Cowboy, it’s still harassing Vitalic honcho Pascal Arbez.

Draped in terrifyingly paranoid electronics, the album seems drawn straight from the movie’s perverted, synth-Ludwig Von, wrapped up in some not-quite-goth disco trance. OK Cowboy is terribly paranoid and violent — centered by former Euro/electro anthem “Poney” — yet compelling all the same. In headphones it’s the music at the rave at the point in the movie where the damaged angel gets murdered. On stereo speakers, it’s the best video game you’ve never played. That the word “cowboy” is in any way attached to the title — much less is the title — adds a post-apocalyptic, steel-bull riding flair full of infrared light and cyborgs. Cowboy, this certainly is not O.K. Yes it is.

8

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Spins, Weekly