For those of you ignorant to the techno scene is a techno über producer and remixer who has put his magical musical wand on tracks for Bjork and Basemnt Jaxx among others. ‘My friend Dario’ is the new single from the techno wizard a.k.a. Pascal Arbez-Nicolas, from his debut album ‘OK Cowboy’.
‘My Friend Dario’ is a loud, sexy, fast passed techno composition, animated with rock guitars and the animatronic voice of some robot chick named ‘Brigitte’ who keeps banging on about how her friend Dario drives too fast in his super mega car???? Brigitte is perhaps the best thing about this track as the guitars seem a bit gimmicky and for some godforsaken reason they began to bring back rather unwanted memories for me of the Rednex ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ – Get back Satan never to return, Yuk!!
The CD single comes with good mixes, one extended mix and a Dima Prefers Newbeat Mix. Dima from what I can gather is another of Mr. Arbez-Nicolas’ aliases. This mix is actually a better rendition of ‘My Friend Dario’ as it adds a bit more personality and does away with the Rednex guitars to add more vocals and overt sexuality, take a listen to the lyrics. Also included on the CD single is ‘Warm Leatherette’ taken from ’s Radio 1 set. All in all fans and techno heads will not be disappointed by the offerings o the CD single and should they feel inclined they can purchase his debut album ‘OK Cowboy’ released on April 25th.
Since the release of his critically acclaimed debut ‘Poney EP’ in 2001 and 2004’s ‘Fanfare’, has been in demand gigging worldwide and working with his side project The Silures with Linda Lamb. Yet the globetrotting techno wonder has also found time in recent years to create his own label, Citizen Records, which focuses mainly on techno and electro beats. For fans there is lots of information on upcoming performances, live sessions and audio samples at
www.citizen-records.com.Although ‘My Friend Dario’ has all the right things speed, an edgy futuristic attitude, and the obligatory techno thump; it also has a quirky pop feel about it which could mean it gains quite a fan following. But quite frankly I have a hard time feeling much about it. Its good but its disco without the heart. Maybe I just missed the real meaning of My ‘friend’ ‘Dario’ and ‘Warm’ ‘Leatherette’, the analogies must be greater and deeper than I care to look.
Release Date: 4th April 2005
Record Label: PIAS Records
Words By: Rachel Webb
