THE WAIT IS OVER! Set to release 21 May, Daft Punk's Random Access Memories was leaked this morning, a full week before its official debut in Australia on the 17. Undoubtedly the most anticipated album of the year, I have to admit that it is not at all what I expected. Fans hoping for another "One More Time" will be a little disappointed, but that doesn't mean that the album hasn't been worth waiting for.
The album reflects a common attitude amongst electronic music lovers: nostalgia for simpler times. With random industrial screeching and top-40 vocalists not so slowly taking over the scene, many EDM fans have been jonesing for some good old-fashioned dance music. And in many ways, Random Access Memories is just that. The mega-funky "Get Lucky," for example, is simple but solid, and "Doin' It Right" will without a doubt soon be your late-night go-to jam. There is only one sample on the entire album and the only electronics featured are some synths and a vocoder. In this respect, we can't help but give the pair mad props for staying true to the sound that made them so ultra-famous in the first place.
On the other hand, I can understand why others are a little confused about all the hype. Tracks like "Game of Love" and "Motherboard" are, yes, groovy, but also somewhat anti-climactic, and there are no fat drops or epic basslines. The pair has never been big-room, but I can't say there's a single track that carries the same energy as "Around The World" and this is something I think I can safely say we were all really hoping for.
All in all, Random Access Memories is good, but I'm glad I didn't jump on that plane ticket to Australia. Though the two have already said they are not touring this year, I am still holding out hope that they will appear on some magical mystery lineup yet to be revealed so I can finally get the Daft Punk fix I have been craving for so many years.
Download Random Access Memories Here
And decide for yourself. I am interested to see what the music community will be saying in the coming days. As always, happy listening! A xx
