The nostalgia surrounding any action Daft Punk make, always manages to create a massive buzz throughout any genre of music. Somewhere in an ordinary persons life, Daft Punk have been a foregrounding soundtrack, Wether its the early 2000's club tunes, right down to Kanye West's cheap rip off of 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'. So when Daft Punk revealed earlier in the year that they were making a comeback, speculation appeared of festival rumours and collaborations, just a typical thing when the French duo are in the equation.
Me, along with many other curious ears were waiting in suspense for Monday's release of 'Random Access Memories'. With the release of 'Get Lucky' ft Pharell Williams a few weeks back, then a stint at number one through many charts across the world, Daft Punk fever was definitely setting in. It took elements of the usual anthemic tracks such as 'Around the World' and 'Technologic' and mashed them in to a funky groove using bass lines and ringing guitar melodies. Going off this, I think many people were expecting the usual anthemic summer soundtracks, with a usual fast paced tempo and some earbending technological triumphs, not knowing what to expect, I guess I was let down at certain aspects. Where I was expecting the tracks to escualte after 'Get Lucky', we got slow grooves and everlasting buildups that never took off. In my eyes it took a gradual downturn of expectation in what could have been a summer album that would have lasted a lifetime, but I know for definate it will grow on me.
As usual, the French duo got the collaborations spot on. Mixes with N.E.R.D.'s Pharell Williams and The Strokes' Julian Casablancas were the perfect match, but just with tracks that didn't seem to go anywhere.
The E.P. was top and tailed with two tracks with epic sequences in 'Give Life Back to Music' and 'Contact' each containing elements that will gradually grown on its audience, but doesn't quite hit home the way it was expected. 'Give Life Back to Music' opens with a dramatic and strong sequence, escalating down to a typical signature Daft Punk funk, while 'Contact' uses as sample of NASA space talk, to bring the entrance into Phantom of the Opera style organ build up, filling out with an enthralling drum solo and typical electronic riffs. Track 2, 'The Game of Love' starts with a slow groove, to me relating back the the sterotypical 1970's porno foreplay music that sadly I was never around to witness. Sadly this is a track that never manages to lift off in my opinion. Where I was waiting for a epic electronic fill, it just swayed the same way through the whole track. Once past the dreary monologue at the start of track 3, 'Giorgio by Moroder' it becomes a track with potential to exceed lowered expectations. With superb orchestral buildups and subtle breakdowns, the track is a pleasant feat for the ears. Missing out the slow and lugubrious slow jazz piano of 'Within', Track 5, 'Instant Crush' featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes gives off vibes of late 90's American prom music. My highlight of the album 'Loose Yourself to Dance' is at track 6, where although very Get Lucky sounding, it's groovy basslines, ringing guitars and a mixture of Pharell's pupescent sounding voice create a cracking track at every aspect. Track 7, 'Touch' featuring Paul Williams to me is a track that has grown on me, and also one you have to listen to fully to actually appreciate it. If you based your opinion on the first 2minutes of the track, you'd probably never listen again, but certain aspects of buildups help the track to be a standout track of the album. 'Get Lucky' probably needs no introduction anymore, as is been severely overplayed on ever radio and tv station you can possible think of. A great track that seems to be out of fashion after being played 24/7. Tracks 9 and 10 seem to be just fillers of empty hopes with this album. 'Beyond' and 'Motherboard' are tough to listen to right the the end and dont grab my attention in any sense. But the colaborations of 'Fragments of Time' with Todd Edward and 'Doin' it Right' with Panda Bear help the bring the album to a positive conclusion.
Through the 2 weeks I took to write this blog, 'Random Access Memories' has been a casual listen. I have to admit, on first glance the album didn't grab my attention in any way, but over time its managed to grow on me to the point of full appreciation. Where in some aspects I am still dissapointed, in others I have grown to admire the time and dedication gone into such an intricate record. 'Random Access Memories' is one that I know I will never get bored of but one that still let me down when I was expecting a masterpiece.
