Recently, I have watched an episode of HBO’s brand new show Young Pope and in one scene, the main characters, pope, asked his advisor who does she think is the greatest band today. As she didn’t know, he said Daft Punk. Later on, he explained that is because we don’t know how they look, the same strategy that made Banksy the most famous artist of our times. Maybe they don’t reveal their identity, but they reveal their talent, which is why I have decided to reveal their last album from 2013 in this review.
Random Access Memories set the new standard for electronic and dance music back in 2013, at least when it comes to the mainstream world. Paris duo Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo combined techno, dance and hip-hop on their 1997 debut, and brought life to the drugged beats and cheap samples.
Around The World was an absolute hit that was played not only on the commercial radio, but also in art clubs from Paris to New York. Their second effort Discovery reached even higher heights, both commercially and critically. The success and the charm of Daft Punk is in their attitude, non-pretentious and positive. Random Access Memories might be their best album since Discovery.
As they were leaning on eurodance, techno and hip hop before, they have decided to try something else on this record and fused it with soft rock and disco prog-rock. This was an expensive, ambitious blockbuster release with numerous guest appearances. The album was recorded in different cities and in different time intervals.
The best description of the circumstances in which the album was made may be the words of Todd Edwards (a producer who plays a leading role on this record) – Microphone I use for singing costs more than my car. Only one artist invests so much money in the record making process – Kanye West, so it comes as no surprise that these musicians collaborated.
You can hear every tone here. In my opinion, this is one of the best mixed records in the past ten years. Daft Punk wanted to elude the sound of the past times, as recorded on hard drive. The opening track Give Life Back To Music with Nil Rodger’s funky guitars reminds us of Daft Punk’s trademark – auto tuned vocals. This is just the elegant introduction, as the album develops as the dedication to the 70s and the 80s put through the filter of the 21st century. The past has never sounded so futuristic before.
Touch features Paul Williams, while Giorgio by Moroder represents the pinnacle of Random Access Memories. German-Italian disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder tells his music path with disco, prog-rock and techno rhythms in the background.
Instant Crush features Julian Casablancas, and it probably inspired the frontman of The Strokes to experiment with electronic music further on. I don’t have to remind you about the success of neo-disco epic hit Get Lucky. Doin it Right is a collaboration with Panda Bear, and Contact closes the album bursting from samples.
To conclude - Random Access Memories will be remembered as the milestone in commercial electronic music.
