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Darkdancer

 
Album Review: Darkdancer

  • Artist: Les Rythmes Digitales
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: October 05, 1999
  • Total Time: 58:53
  • Type: Enhanced CD-ROM
  • Genre: Electronica

Review

While his debut album ran with the Wall of Sound crowd to the detriment of some interesting ideas, Jacques Lu Cont came into his own with the second Les Rythmes Digitales album. Consider Darkdancer as Lu Cont's senior thesis in the major course of study: "History of Dance Music: The Early to Mid-'80s." And give him straight A's because he's obviously done his homework and actually studied the texts, without resorting to rote memorization and subsequent regurgitation come test time. Every club-oriented stylistic speed-bump of the decade is right here, including the era of female dance-pop before Madonna (yes, it did exist) with "Take a Little Time," an earnest little electro-groover that earns Lu Cont bonus points for utilizing the crucial '80s diva Shannon. "Hypnotise" is a nice little electro-paranoia track to fit in with Bambaataa's "Planet Rock," and "Brothers" takes on streamlined dance intellectualism a la New Order (with a straining pseudo-bassline to match). The house era is probably best represented, with nods to Chicago jacking house -- complete with stuttered vocal tags -- on the standouts "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" and "Music Makes You Lose Control." Even when he strays into territory last inhabited by Level 42, as on "Sometimes" (with Nik Kershaw on vocals), a great song and a great production rescue Lu Cont from anything potentially cringe-worthy. That's the secret of Darkdancer; well-written songs and excellent production skills -- plus a sense of fun that takes no prisoners -- make artistic originality nothing more than an academician's game. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Dreamin' Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (3:33)
Music Makes You Lose Control Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (3:46)
Soft Machine Jacques Lu Cont, Warner Chappell Les Rythmes Digitales (3:36)
Hypnotise Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (4:52)
(Hey You) What's That Sound? Warner Chappell Les Rythmes Digitales (4:12)
Take a Little Time Jacques Lu Cont, Warner Chappell Les Rythmes Digitales (3:29)
From: Disco To: Disco Les Rythmes Digitales (3:51)
Brothers Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (4:08)
MDC Vendredi Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (6:38)
Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat) Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (3:30)
About Funk Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (5:42)
Sometimes (Lyrics) Jacques Lu Cont, Warner Chappell Les Rythmes Digitales (4:57)
Damaged People Warner Chappell, Jacques Lu Cont Les Rythmes Digitales (6:39)

Credits

Jacques Lu Cont (Producer), Mark Jones (A&R), Philip Casile (Illustrations), Matt Fathaway (Engineer), Jacques Lu Cont (Engineer), Warner Chappell (Publishing), Rene Tinner (Engineer)
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Wikipedia: Darkdancer
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Darkdancer
Studio album by Les Rythmes Digitales
Released 24 May 1999
Genre Electroclash, Synthpop, Post-Disco[1]
Length 53:43
Label Wall of Sound
Producer Jacques Lu Cont
Professional reviews
Les Rythmes Digitales chronology
Libération
(1996)
Darkdancer
(1999)

Darkdancer is the second studio album released by Les Rythmes Digitales. It was first released in May 1999 but received little critical acclaim, albeit more than the band's first release, Libération.[citation needed] After British electronic musician Stuart Price, the sole member of Les Rythmes Digitales, began to gain attention for his collaboration with artists such as Madonna, Darkdancer was re-released on 5 September 2005 in the UK as a dual CD/DVD set that included some unreleased songs, song remixes, and the videos for "(Hey You) What's That Sound?" and "Sometimes".

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Dreamin'" – 3:33
  2. "Music Makes You Lose Control" – 3:46
  3. "Soft Machine" – 3:36
  4. "Hypnotise" – 4:52
  5. "(Hey You) What's That Sound?" – 4:12
  6. "Take A Little Time" (featuring Shannon) – 3:29
  7. "From: Disco To: Disco" – 3:51
  8. "Brothers" – 4:08
  9. "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" – 3:30
  10. "About Funk" – 5:42
  11. "Sometimes" (featuring Nik Kershaw) – 4:57
  12. "Damaged People" – 6:39

The U.S. edition, released on Astralwerks in October 1999, also contains the track "MDC Vendredi".

Expanded edition

The 2005 re-release contains the videos for "(Hey You) What's That Sound?" and "Sometimes", as well as the following additional tracks on the DVD:

  1. "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat) (Club Mix)'"
  2. "Music Makes You Lose Control (LRD Mix)"
  3. "Steps Ahead"
  4. "(Hey You) What's That Sound? (LRD Remix)"
  5. "Energy"
  6. "Sometimes (Junior Sanchez Remix)"
  7. "Nancy Jamaica"
  8. "Jacques Your Body (Cassius Remix Edit)"

Singles

  • "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" (July 1997)
  • "Music Makes You Lose Control" (13 April 1998)
  • "Sometimes" (26 July 1999)
  • "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" (2nd release) (18 October 1999)
  • "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" (3rd release) (29 August 2005)

Allusions and references

References to other works

  • The song "Jacques Your Body" pays homage to a song by Steve "Silk" Hurley entitled "Jack Your Body".
  • The song "Music Makes You Lose Control" contains a sample from Hot Streak's 1983 hit "Body Work". The same sample is used in Missy Elliott's 2005 song "Lose Control".
  • The song "(Hey You) What's That Sound?" contains a sample from Skee-Lo's 1995 hit "I Wish".
  • The song "From: Disco To: Disco" contains a sample from a song by Whirlpool Productions of the same name.

References in other works

References

  1. ^ Paoletta, Michael (1999). Billboard Magazine: Reviews & Previews: Spotlight (Les Rythmes Digitales - Darkdancer): "[about funky and British synth-pop] two musical styles steeped in the post-disco/electro scene of New York in the early '80s". p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510
  2. ^ Aston, Martin. "Review: Les Rythmes Digitales - Darkdancer". Q (EMAP Metro Ltd) (July 1999): 122. 

 
 
Learn More
Darkdancer [UK] (1999 Album by Les Rythmes Digitales)
Darkdancer [Bonus Tracks] (1999 Album by Les Rythmes Digitales)
Libération (album)

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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