Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Posted on May 21, 2013 in Album, Baby Makin, Bangers, Brand New, Dance Floor, Future, Smooth Jams

After painstaking anticipation for the imminent release of Daft Punk’s latest masterpiece, ‘Random Access Memories’ was leaked to the public 8 days prior to its official due date. Throughout the course of its debut, we were continuously taunted and teased with snippets of sounds whether it was on Daft Punk’s official website, at Coachella, or on TV. Our intrigue was piqued even further when the duo released a Vine solely displaying the titles of the tracks. Our hunger was entertained with the release of the album’s single, ‘Get Lucky’, but we were still left in a starry-eyed gaze wanting more. Countless remixes of the single were released, but nothing could possibly fill the void left by the other 12 tracks which had still remained a well-kept secret. And then finally, after our anticipation reached an all-time high and we couldn’t wait any longer, the full length album leaked and we got our fix.

1. Give Life Back to Music - The album starts off with a grand entrance of power chords that tell you Daft Punk is back on the scene, as if you had ever thought they made an exit. You immediately notice the utilization of live instruments with the track’s distinguishable studio-produced sound, alluding to the funky disco feel the remaining 12 tracks so uniquely utilize. And then the signature robotic voice comes in with a harmonious combination of old-school styles and futuristic sounds to produce something magical, unparalleled by any previous work.

2. The Game of Love - With hints of ‘Something About Us’, The Game of Love is a soft and melancholy tale of heartbreak and rejection. The downtempo robotic voice narrates the pitfalls of love, and is eventually utilized to transition between vocalized singing to what seems to be a vocorder-humming solo.

3. Giorgio by Moroder - Undoubtedly the most interesting track on the album, Daft Punk does what I have never seen done in music before. Combining Giorgio Moroder’s monologue on his rise to stardom and funky background riffs, the song evolves into a parallel between what Moroder discusses and what Daft Punk is presently doing. Moroder narrates how he wanted to create an album with the sounds of the 50s, the 60s, the 70s, and a sound of the future-a desire clearly held by Daft Punk with the distinctive sounds on Random Access Memories and this track in particular. As soon as Moroder begins discussing his ‘sound of the future’, the track erupts with Daft Punk’s tribute to Moroder’s signature sound. After paying their homage, the duo spin the track in their own direction: a 9-minute creative whirlwind that synthesizes an orchestra of sounds into a timeless work of art.

4. Within - Beginning with a beautiful piano intro, ‘Within’ is a downtempo track about a robot facing an inner conflict of identity and emotion. Reflecting upon the album’s title, the singing robot faces the difficulty of understanding which memories to hold on to, and which to let go. Consistent with the theme of Daft Punk’s work, the song embodies and harmonizes the struggle of a robot living in a world full of humans.

5. Instant Crush - The album picks up the pace again with this track featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes. Just as you could have guessed by the aptly named title, this one is extremely catchy and likely to be stuck in your head for the remainder of the day. It has smooth lyrics with an even smoother delivery, and every little transition hooks you further into this instant hit.

6. Lose Yourself to Dance - Easily an instant classic-this song makes you want to do exactly what the title says. Pharrell William’s presence on this track is more than fitting as his voice in combination with Daft Punk’s beckoning robotic “Come ons” form an agglomeration of sounds that fit perfectly together like the pieces of a complex jigsaw puzzle. To me, this song embodies exactly what Daft Punk wanted to do with the album: adding their own twist on a blend of decades of sounds to create a work of art that would melt the boundaries of time and space. Through this track, they disintegrate the line between robot and human to form sounds you could have never before imagined.

7. Touch - With the darkest intro on the album, ‘Touch’ begins with an outer-space vibe that floats you away to the stratosphere of far-away planets. It isn’t until the intro segues into an evil sounding voice that the track quickly cuts to the voice of Paul Williams, which begins the start of a victorious sounding melody. The track builds up to Daft Punk softly cooing “If love is the answer you’ll hold on”, and then you’re blasted off to outer space again, finally coming back to Earth with the distinct feeling of ‘having found the answer’.

8. Get Lucky - Just as the single of any album should do, ‘Get Lucky’ reflects upon the vibes of the rest of the tracks-it is a truly feel-good song that leaves you wanting to stay up and dance the night away. Pharrell Williams smooth voice and catchy guitar riffs carry the majority of the track, with Daft Punk making their entrance a little past halfway.

9. Beyond - An extensively theatrical beginning picks up here and leads into an 80s style quick-strum guitar riff that makes you feel like you’re walking towards a sunset after a long and victorious day. Although this track is more simple than the rest, it still reminds you how even the smallest changes can make a big difference.

10. Motherboard - Aptly placed after ‘Beyond’, ‘Motherboard’ takes theatrics to the next level with a rollercoaster of sounds that carry you from a blissful calm to a raging storm. Quick beating drums allude to an inexorable climax that capitalizes on energy and anticipation built in the first half of the track, eventually leading you down through a panoramic view of outer-space galaxies and quasars.

11. Fragments of Time - Featuring Todd Edwards, this track draws some similarities to ‘Instant Crush’ with smoother-than-ever vocals and breaks. Turning days into melodies, the beautifully paired harmonies eventually lead up to a signature synthesizer solo not unlike the duo’s classic ‘Digital Love’.

12. Doin’ it Right - Daft Punk could not have picked a better artist to do this track with than Panda Bear of Animal Collective. Taking the two very different sounds of the robots’ repetitive “Doin’ it right” hook and Panda Bear’s mellifluous cries, it’s as if two songs have been mashed together into one. The repetition and quick breaks on Daft Punk’s part seems like a throwback to Homework, but the addition of Panda Bear’s vocals transform this into an entirely new animal all on its own. Congruent with ‘Get Lucky’ and the rest of the album, ‘Doin’ it Right’ is all about letting go, being in the moment, and having a good time.

13. Contact - The album comes to a close with the voice of an astronaut documenting his voyage in space, looking back at the Earth, and then leads into a tornado of a close. To say this album ends with a bang would be an understatement. Quick hitting drums are paired with an evolving synthesizer that segues into a culmination of electric guitar and a spaceship taking off. The track builds an intense amount of anticipation for what should be the most ridiculous drop on the album, but unexpectedly closes with a simple end of transmission. I like to think that means they’ll be back again.

Daft Punk has undoubtedly changed the game yet again with their work on ‘Random Access Memories’. Although they currently have no set plans to tour, they have stated that their next tour will be a culmination of all of their work thus far. Judging by what I’ve heard on this album and on their Alive 2007 album, their next tour will likely mark history one more time.

-Moose

Words from the ICGYH Team:

Krystal: I liked it, but understand the underwhelmed response to this album: it seems like many fans expected Discovery 2.0, where most everything was upbeat and club-worthy. R.A.M. is slower, toned down; it’s more appropriate for the post-party winddown than for the club. It seems like all these collaborators, talented as they are, may have gotten in the way of a “true” DP album/sound, but it doesn’t necessarily delegitimize it. Part of me wonders if there’s going to be some Daft Punk musical happening in the future, for which songs like “Touch” would be entirely appropriate. I think R.A.M. requires multiple listens in order to appreciate what it is, rather than what it is not, or should have been.

Personal Highlights:
2. The Game of Love
5. Instant Crush ft. Julian Casablancas
8. Get Lucky ft. Pharrell

Anders: “‘Random Access Memories’ seems a bit adrift, connecting only superficially with technical brilliance. It meanders from an interview to jam session to 10-minute broadway grandeur as if unsuccessfully seeking an assumed destiny. There’s some occasional genius no doubt, but it’s quickly lost in the hollows of extravagance. For how glamorous it is, “Random Access Memories” is easily forgettable.”

Zach: “The most important thing to remember about Random Access Memories, is that it is not an EDM record. The vast majority of today’s dance music fan-base will be quick to curse the name Daft Punk because they were not given the quintessential dance record to legitimize their generation’s EDM craze. In all likelihood, this is partially what the robots were going for. At its most pretentious, R.A.M. is a commentary on the state of electronic music today. With every D.A.W., plugin, sample pack, and sound available to anyone with a computer, there is quickly becoming nothing new or truly inspiring to come out of it. Daft Punk wanted to use the resources available only to them to make an album that could (re)connect themselves and the rest of the world to the art of music making. Did they succeed completely? No. But they certainly have restarted the conversation in the right direction.”

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