Mariam Nihal

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Daft Punk, metonym for disco and electronic music, is finally back with yet another masterpiece ‘Random Access Memories’ — their first album in eight years. The French duo has raised the bar for electronic music industry fans, producers, ravers, and tastemakers reviving the era of ‘disco’.



Much like the lyrics of ‘Get Lucky’ their first release from the album featuring Pharell Williams, Daft Punk is a symbol like a phoenix that invents itself.



While staying in the shadows, Daft Punk duo — Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalterhave – brought back digital love one more time, infusing synthesizers and drum machines. “Get Lucky”became Daft Punk’s first UK #1 single on April 28 this year and Spotify music streaming website reported that the song is the most-streamed new song in history.

‘Going back to go forward’ is an ongoing theme that runs throughout the album.



Using icons like Giorgio Moroder and Nile Rodgers to tell the history of disco is a method used to employ the feel of records during the 70’s and 80’s. If we are to go forward, we must go back to rediscover and reclaim the power of the past, like the supernatural feeling and sound of Pink Floyd.



In an online series ‘The Collaborators’ Nile Rodgers narrated his story about working with Daft Punk. “It’s like they went back to go forward. They make you up your game, even if your game is pretty good. I feel like I’m working with people who grew up with me and feel it the same way we felt the vibe when we were creating this stuff.”He spoke about Jimi Hendrix’s legendary studio where Daft Punk recorded ‘Random Access Memories’ bringing back memories from him. “We used to jam at the venue before it became a studio and was still a nightclub.”



Many critiqued the album, but in a way they have never before. To expect the unexpected from the legends of ‘disco’ and electronic music, gave the robots a chance to surpass and dumbfound collective perception. The album’s utter lack of contemporary melodies and generic tempo aspirations might have been a disappointment to many ‘new’ generation listeners lacking tremendous background in music’s rich history and disco culture. Rolling Stone magazine review said even though the album is by far the year’s most anticipated EDM set, “the only issue is that it sounds almost nothing like EDM.”



But for those artists saying the new album is far from electronic dance music, Daft Punk clarified on BBC radio that in their new album, they tried to “replace, to a certain extent, the machines with the people”with live instrumentation.



The album was born out of the tradition of Chicago house music; post the collapse of ‘disco’.James Montgomery from MTV news said: “In a lot of ways, seems like the only possible response to dance music in 2013.”



In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Daft Punk said: “Today, electronic music is made in airports and hotel rooms, by DJs traveling. It has a sense of movement, maybe, but it’s not the same vibe as going into these studios that contain specific things.Electronic music right now is in its comfort zone and it’s not moving one inch. “That’s not what artists are supposed to do.”Thomas said that the genre is suffering from an identity crisis. “You hear a song, whose track is it? There’s no signature. Skrillex has been successful because he has a recognizable sound: You hear a dubstep song, even if it’s not him, you think it’s him.”Many DJ’s like Laidback Luke, Diplo, Zedd and Dirty South among others have kept social media alive with comments that seem more sarcastic and debate the genre of music the duo create.  Although Canadian DJ A-trak said: “If you look at how big electronic music is now, everyone who is doing it big started by idolizing them.”



Omar Basaad, Saudi EDM producer said: “They recorded everything live in the studio, unlike most producers who work on their laptops and create the same sound. It really impacts me as an EDM producer and opens minds for people. People want the same sound. They don’t like anything new. And people want more of it, which is odd. Every one is stuck in loop.”Q, a UK based music magazine said “by some margin Daft Punk’s best album in a career that’s already redefined dance music at least twice. It is, in short, a mind blower.”



Gigwise, a British online music news site said: “It sounds nothing like any of the duo’s three previous albums, and yet manages to sound 100% like a Daft Punk record. The wait is over — and boy, was it worth it.”