It’s been seven years since Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo set out to create a classic Daft Punk album – one that is impervious to the test of time and the over-saturation of modern music…
Those familiar with Daft Punk’s work may have been surprised by their decision to move away from the riff-heavy, sample-filled EDM to the lush sounds of 70’s disco, but this transition was never without welcome. The early signs of this progression can be spotted in some Discovery-era tracks (Voyager, to name one) and show fully just how proficient the duo have become in their time under the spotlight.
Random Access Memories plays like a huge collaborative project that has taken years to perfect, working alongside some of the greatest musicians that have influenced their vision. The reality, however, is Daft Punk at the helm: writing and producing the rhythms and the melodies, the grooves and the fanfare – utilising the featured artists’ talents as much as they possibly could to tie the plethora of genres and eras together. To make a timeless album, they understood the necessity of diversifying the influences going into it: the album draws elements ranging from disco and electronic to pop and soft rock to funk and smooth soul, and even has orchestras and choirs integrated seamlessly throughout.
Over 100 different musicians are credited on the instrumentals on some of the album’s denser tracks. Modern musical technology has made sampling an easier and more accessible route for current artists, but Daft Punk have transitioned in the opposite direction in pursuit of authenticity, replacing their iconic sampling and repetition with vast, original arrangements.
Julian Casablancas’ contributions on Instant Crush give the track a ‘Strokes gone indietronica’ feel, whilst Animal Collective’s Panda Bear lends his distinct voice on Doin’ it Right – a collaboration nobody expected would flow so naturally. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers both feature on the album’s two biggest grooves, Get Lucky and Lose Yourself to Dance, which serves an important purpose for Daft Punk; a band that has always primarily pivoted towards dance music. Being one of the most revolutionary acts in the French electronic scene, the pair have been exposed to a myriad of musical styles since their conception over 20 years ago. These two tracks represent their ability to relish in the new – to learn from the ever-changing musical landscape and apply these new sounds to old styles – implementing Williams’ and Rodgers’ abilities whilst maintaining the signature Daft Punk feel to create an influential (see Parcels) and fresh sound that kept Get Lucky topping the charts for weeks.
What began as a kind-of-gimmick, the Daft Punk robotic helmets are gracing the cover of this album, complete with ‘Random Access Memories’ being written almost like a signature. The album has all the qualities of a perfect, classic album, and the self-portraiture on the cover signifies that Daft Punk planned for that to be the case. They allocate the longest run-times to the album’s two stars of the show: Touch and Giorgio by Moroder.
Touch is a grand expression of their musical prowess. Unlike any Daft Punk song before it, Paul Williams’ deeply intimate lyrics expose some of the rawest elements of humanity: our passion for genuine emotional connection and the dangers of seeking the thrill too faithfully: ‘Sweet touch / You’ve almost convinced me I’m real / I need something more’. The track transitions from a slow, eerie beginning into an all-encompassing, almost unfathomable climax – one of the sweetest musical moments of the last decade (or, arguably, ever).
Giorgio by Moroder features a monologue from legendary artist Giorgio Giovanni Moroder, whose influences are not only seen throughout the history of electronic and disco, but the global music scene as a whole. Daft Punk owes a lot to Giorgio Moroder, and the track in its entirety is a tribute to his legacy, jumping from sound to sound in a valiant attempt to emulate some of Giorgio’s greatest work. This appearance is the first we had seen of Giorgio in almost 20 years before it, and this collaboration captures the full essence of Random Access Memories. Two iconic artists, revolutionary in their own fields, in a state of mutual admiration of each other: Daft Punk are engaging face-to-face with the music that has inspired them over the years and have developed their own sound to produce something that transcends the current conventional production of music. ‘Once you free your mind about the concept of harmony and of music being correct, you can do whatever you want’: this line by Giorgio is at the core of Daft Punk’s discography, and has influenced countless other artists to create freely: to make music for music’s sake.
When Giorgio Moroder entered Daft Punk’s studio, he asked the technician why three microphones were set up. He discovered that Bangalter had one tuned to the sound of the 60s, one for the sound of the 70s and one for the sound of today. After asking if anybody would even notice the difference, the technician replied: “He will notice”. Daft Punk have long been recognised as perfectionists in the industry, and the production of this album only solidifies that. Giorgio Moroder explained that whilst some of his most popular work (Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, for example) was produced in a matter of hours, Daft Punk’s sounds often take a week or longer to master. They took the time to make sure everything in this album sounds exactly how they intended, meaning in 20 years’ time they can look back on it without any sense of regret.
Random Access Memories is the perfect high-fidelity album. One that is created to be timeless, existing in the past and the future whilst simultaneously being rooted in all of the best elements of today’s music. To ‘Give Life Back to Music’ was Daft Punk’s vision here – and in doing so they have given the world the kind of music that will never grow old. An album full of endless enjoyment and rediscovery.
Rating: 9.5/10
By Dan Fauzi
Feature Image Credit: Columbia