REVIEW: Les Rythmes Digitales, Darkdancer (Astralwerks)
- I.K. MacLeod
The only thing French about electro-disco artist Jacques Lu Cont (aka Brit Stuart Price) is the layer of decade-old fromage that coats this new CD. There is nary a break-beat to be found in this production, just mounds of nostalgic house and refurbished funk grated over a series of repetitive rhythms in a watered-down Kraftwerk aesthetic. In other words, it is designed for people who appreciate music that doesn't take itself too seriously and are looking to maximize their fun.
Les Rythmes Digitales isn't afraid to put a big happy face on top of faceless electronica and does it just as effectively as the cartoony Cassius and the masquerading Daft Punk. "(Hey You) What's That Sound?" works well by mixing a little Gary Numan with Bronx braggado while "Hypnotise" will wake you up from your sweet dreams thinking you are witness to a long lost Eurythmics remix. The slithering bass line of "Music Makes You Lose Control" and the stutter of "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" will both bring exciting peaks to your party. Most of the tracks feature cut-up vocal snippets or samples, but there are a few full fledged songs spread throughout the program to keep your attention. If you like your soul synthesized and want to see a spark on the dance floor, then Darkdancer is the one for you.
