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Since Daft Punk’s last major album in 2005, the electronic music landscape has transformed dramatically. The French house duo once occupied a distinct, idiosyncratic niche among pop musicians; now, electronic–based music dominates even the top 40 charts. Today’s popular EDM differs drastically from Daft Punk’s disco–inspired synthpop, though with their new album, “Random Access Memories,” the duo proves that their vision remains fresh. Instead of incorporating fist pump inspiring drops and autotuned melodies, “Random Access Memories” harks back to the original electronic dance music: disco.
The album begins in a bright burst of guitar riffs, with “Give Life Back to Music,” a guitar–heavy track with hints of funk. Most of these songs won’t make the average fratty EDM playlist that is replete with Diplo and Skrillex. Still, several of them are dance party ready. “Get Lucky” and “Lose Yourself to Dance,” both featuring Pharrell Williams, combine fast-paced disco melodies with catchy, upbeat hooks. In general, though, the album offers a more mellow listening experience. You’ll want to boogie, not twerk. It’s a sophisticated change from popular dance music bursting with heavy bass.
On “Random Access Memories,” Daft Punk has taken on more collaborators than usual. Six out of the 14 tracks feature guest artists, and as a result, the album abounds with human voices. Several tracks, including the final song “Contact,” incorporate samples of speech. The penultimate track, “Doing it Right,” featuring Panda Bear, layers speech over several vocal lines to create a hypnotic effect. And the third track, the nine-minute-long “Giorgio by Morodor,” samples the voice of eponymous producer and singer Giorgio, paying tribute to the disco pioneer. Instead of futurism, “Random Access Memories” ventures into nostalgia. Daft Punk combines influences from numerous decades to produce an album that’s surprising, somewhat understated and completely fresh.
Grade: A-
Sounds Best When: Spending a mellow evening with close friends
99 cent Download: “Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams)”
