A.R.E.S.: The Architect of Modern Electronic Rock

A.R.E.S. is the innovative electronic rock project of French producer and multi-instrumentalist Arnaud Rebotini. Emerging from the Parisian underground in the late 1990s, the artist has built a formidable reputation for merging aggressive techno with the raw energy of rock and post-punk. His work, particularly the 2012 album French Touch, has achieved cult status and solidified his influence across multiple music scenes.

Early career

Arnaud Rebotini formed A.R.E.S. in 1998 as an outlet for his more guitar-driven and rhythmically intense compositions. The project's early sound was rooted in the burgeoning French electro and techno scene but immediately distinguished itself with live instrumentation and a darker, industrial edge. Initial releases on labels like Blackstrobe Records helped establish a foundational following in European clubs.

Breakthrough

The project's major breakthrough arrived in 2012 with the release of the album French Touch on the influential label Discograph. This collection masterfully reimagined classics from French electronic pioneers like Daft Punk and Justice through a lens of distorted guitars and pounding techno beats. The album received widespread critical acclaim, charting in France and becoming a key reference in the electronic rock genre.

Key tracks

Music Sounds Better With You — This aggressive, rock-infused cover of the Stardust hit became an instant anthem and a definitive statement of the A.R.E.S. sound.

We Are Your Friends — A brutalist rework of the Justice track, it exemplifies the project's ability to deconstruct dance music into something heavier and more visceral.

Sexual Sportswear — An original track that showcases Rebotini's skill in crafting driving, cinematic instrumentals that blend synth-wave with industrial power.

Night — Featured in the popular video game Wipeout 2048, this track expanded A.R.E.S.'s reach to a global audience of gaming and electronic music fans.

Disco Destroyer — A later single that continues the fusion of relentless four-on-the-floor techno with searing, punk-inspired guitar lines.

Beyond his solo work as A.R.E.S., Rebotini has engaged in notable collaborations, including production work for the iconic French rock band Noir Désir. His compositions have also been featured in films and television, further demonstrating the cinematic scope of his music. The project continues to evolve, with releases on labels like Zone Music maintaining a consistent output of high-energy, genre-blurring material.

Fans of A.R.E.S. often appreciate the work of similar French artists who blend electronic and rock elements. Justice shares a foundational influence in French touch but with a more disco-oriented approach. Gesaffelstein explores a similarly dark and minimalist techno aesthetic, though often without the live guitar focus. Laurent Garnier represents the pioneering spirit of French electronic music that informs Rebotini's work. Phoenix offers a more pop-centric take on the fusion of indie rock and synthetic textures from the same national scene.

The powerful, beat-driven music of A.R.E.S. finds a natural home on various radio formats. His tracks are regularly featured on specialty electronic music shows, alternative rock radio stations seeking an edge, and dedicated online radio streams that focus on industrial and synth-based genres. Independent music radio stations across Europe frequently program his work for its energetic and uncompromising style.

Listeners can experience the dynamic sound of A.R.E.S. on radio stations featured across our network. Tune in to discover his catalog of electronic rock anthems through the diverse radio stations available on onairium.com.