Vitalic- V Live*

I've got a huge boner for Vitalic. His Daft-Punk-meets-FM-distortion chug is one of modern techno's most popular, recognizable, and emulated sounds (I'm looking at you, Justice and Digitalism). OK Cowboy was easily the most accomplished, anthemic, and accessible dance album to come out since Daft Punk's legendary Discovery and Homework. The big question in my mind and, perhaps, the minds of others is "how will he follow it up?"

V Live is something of a stopgap between OK Cowboy (presumably) upcoming releases, showcasing a live set (recorded in Belgium in 2006) composed of equal parts OK Cowboy classix and new stuff (or stuff I hadn't heard before, at least.) The set itself is nearly seamless, save the constant crowd noise-cheers punctuating every transition, bass drop, and riff change. It's not overwhelming and gives the recording a sense of "place" that it would otherwise lack.

Vitalic live treats his songs like hot taffy, stretching and compressing them in places, adding and subtracting elements in places you don't expect if you've only heard OK Cowboy. The "Bells" remix in particular sees a familiar track chopped and twisted until it resembles the original about as much as a pretzel resembles a wad of dough. It's a nice change of pace if you've internalized the album and EP tracks as thoroughly as I have.

As for the stuff I hadn't heard before, it's More Vitalic Music. Nothing radical in terms of stylistic shift or sonic signature, but enjoyable all the same.

Dance music is one of the few genres where I feel comfortable recommending a "live" album on the same terms as a "studio recording," since the same laptops and sequencers are usually responsible for both products. OK Cowboy is still Vitalic's magnum opus (and the best introduction to his work), but V Live is a welcome snack for those of us eagerly awaiting his next full-course meal.