Vikthor and Francesca Monte have crafted something unexpectedly magnetic with their “Body and Soul – Take Me Higher” EP, via Carl Cox‘s esteemed 23rd Century Records.

This collaboration feels like watching a master chef pair ingredients that shouldn’t work together, yet somehow create the perfect dish.

The Naples-born techno architect Vikthor brings his signature dark electronic intensity, the kind that made Carl Cox label him a “next-generation techno star.”

At the same time, Francesca Monte shows up with her alt-pop style and that voice that made “Domenica” a hit in Italy and got her 14 million plays across all platforms.

They worked together to make something that sounds like early Kraftwerk but has the emotional depth of modern electronic music.

The first part of “Body and Soul” starts with Vikthor’s signature basement bassline, a pulsing base that sounds like a heartbeat boosted through concrete walls.

But then Monte’s voices come in, and the track stops being a standard dance one. The electronic parts are not in conflict with her voice; instead, it combines with them, making what the artists call a “hypnotic dance of techno pulses and melody.”

The track builds tension like a film noir soundtrack, all shadows and suggestion, before releasing into moments of pure euphoria. It’s reminiscent of how Daft Punk approached collaboration – respecting both the human and electronic elements without sacrificing either.

“Take Me Higher” completely changes the mood. The first track, “Tension,” is about the conflict between the body and the soul. The second track, “Transcendence,” is a call to go beyond this world.

Uplifting pianos shine against Vikthor’s basement techno framework at the start of the track, which sounds like it should not go together but does.

Monte’s airy lyrics lead listeners through a progressive build that feels both old and new, like finding a rave song from a different time period.

The connection to classic rave culture runs deeper than surface-level nostalgia. Both artists understand that the best electronic music has always been about transformation – taking listeners from one emotional state to another.

Monte has made a name for herself on shows like The Voice Italy and X Factor. She knows how to move a crowd like an artist. Vikthor has played to packed houses from Amsterdam to Melbourne, and he knows how to keep the energy high over time.

This EP is especially interesting because it shows how electronic music is right now. Genre lines are becoming less clear-cut these days. Artists like FKA Twigs can work with dance musicians, and pop and dark styles can coexist.

Vikthor and Monte have tapped into this zeitgeist, creating music that speaks to both the dance floor and the headphone listener.

The choice of 23rd Century Records as the release platform adds another layer of significance. Carl Cox’s label has always been about pushing electronic music forward, and this EP fits perfectly within that vision.

Cox himself has been vocal about supporting artists who bring fresh perspectives to techno, and this collaboration certainly qualifies.

The timing of this release also feels significant. As electronic music continues to fragment into countless subgenres, projects like this remind us of the power of collaboration across stylistic boundaries.

When you listen to this EP, you can not help but think of other great cross-genre collaborations, like how Thom Yorke’s electronic experiments made Radiohead sound better or how Björk’s work with electronic artists led to the creation of whole new musical languages.

This isn’t to suggest that Vikthor and Monte are operating at that level yet, but rather to place their work within a tradition of artists who understand that the most interesting music often happens at the intersections.

The EP’s exploration of the relationship between “body and soul” feels particularly relevant in our current moment. As we navigate an increasingly digital existence, questions about the relationship between physical and spiritual experience become more pressing.

These tracks don’t provide easy answers, but they create space for listeners to explore these themes through movement and sound.

The most interesting thing about this partnership might be how casual it sounds. Vikthor and Monte have found a way to talk about music that honours both their individual skills and their shared vision, even though they come from different artistic backgrounds.

This EP doesn’t feel like a compromise between two different approaches; it feels like the discovery of a third way, something neither artist could have achieved alone.

There is no question that these songs will get people moving on the dance floor, but they also deserve deep consideration.

There is enough variety here to please lovers of electronic music, enough rhythm to please pop fans, and enough new ideas to interest people who like experimental music.

It’s a rare achievement in contemporary music – accessibility without simplification, innovation without alienation.

When two artists from different types of music get together and make something truly new, it tells us why working together is still one of the most powerful forces in music.

In their EP, Vikthor and Francesca Monte have done just that. They have made something that goes beyond both techno and pop music, opening up new options for both.