Prepare for a completely biased opinion! I love Daft Punk. Ever since the day I heard ’Da Funk’, these guys can do no wrong in my eyes. I don’t think that Stardust (Thomas Bangalter’s side project) ’Music Sounds Better’ was overplayed. Why, I even have ’Da Funk’ as the ringtone on my phone. So imagine my excitement at the prospect of a new album.
Discovery is Daft Punk’s second album and the follow up to the phenomenal Homework. Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, collectively know as Daft Punk, had left us five long years between albums, so have they lived up to expectations? Let’s find out...
1: One More Time
The first single and thus the official return of Daft Punk to our ears, and boy is it a good one. A brilliant uplifting track that almost makes you smile. Happy vocals, with proclamations of dancing, celebrating and feeling free performed by Romanthony. What more could we need. This track not only makes you dance but it also makes you smile. Fantastic!
2: Aerodynamic
Take note! These are the worst things I will ever say about Daft Punk! This has just been released as the second single and is an instrumental track. The track starts more than promisingly bringing back the classic Daft Punk sound of Homework. Unfortunately half way through, the track goes all Bill and Ted with very dramatic over use of an electric guitar. Now I ?m not saying they should have left it out, maybe just had a little less of it. In my opinion the track could have been perfect without it.
3: Digital Love
This track has a real 80’s electronic era feel to it. The vocals are performed by Daft Punk and ran through a synthesiser giving the whole song a real ’Video Killed The Radio Star’ feel. A good track which does make you want to nod your head from side to side, but possibly a little mediocre from Daft Punk. Again it drops into a bit too much ’Bill and Ted’ guitars towards the end.
4: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Outstanding! I don’t know what else to say. This is my favourite track from Discovery. The whole song is based on these simple lyrics sang in a kind of round robin fashion:
Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever, hour after
Hour work is, never over
The bassline is funkier than you would expect. It’s the kind of track you start the album at just to cheer you up. Often gets stuck on repeat in my house...;) (yes, my flatmates hate me!)
5: Crescendolls
Another instrumental track which is very funky. It brings to mind pictures of Mardi Gras dancers and people jumping all over the place. Definitely great party music which is guaranteed to get the room jumping.
6: Nightvision
An unusually mellow and peaceful instrumental track which is more of an interlude at 1m43. Very much like something that Air or Nightmares On Wax would release.
7: Superheroes
The track starts with a military style drumroll then surprisingly jumps to a hard house beat and a Barry Manilow vocal sample. Sounds bizarre but actually works really well and does make you want to ’jump in the air’ as the lyric suggests. It again has an 80’s electronica feel and wouldn’t have been out of place on Fat Boy Slim’s album.
8: High Life
Another feel-good instrumental track which again is perfect party music. Guaranteed to make you move with an indecipherable female vocal, which is nonetheless perfect for the track. Just make up your own words - no-one will know...;)
9: Something About Us
Here’s another uncharacteristically mellow track but this time has a wicked bassline which is just enough to keep you dancing. Beautiful lyrics again performed by Daft Punk which ends with ’I love you more than anyone in my life’. Definitely one to get down to!
10: Voyager
Another instrumental with a proper 70’s disco feel. Obviously modernised in the way that only Daft Punk can.
11: Veridis Quo
Again an instrumental track which tarts with a very haunting church organ melody and slowly transforms into a laid back, trance like groove. It’s a very unusual track, and quite long at 5:44 but then, that’s what Daft Punk do best!
12: Short Circuit
The last instrumental of the album and one that really wakes you up! This is classic Daft Punk with crazy sounds, happy beats and the need to shimmy around! This one really has to be heard. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is released as a single as it can certainly hold its own.
13: Face To Face
This track is clearly going to be a big hit in the clubs, and has infinite remix possibilities. The vocals are performed by Todd Edwards and have a very house feel. It really reminds me of another track but I just can’t place it...
14: Too Long
No is it that time already? The last track and very inappropriately titled! How can a Daft Punk album be too long? The vocals are again provided by Romanthony and if it wasn’t for the sheer length of this track (9:55) I would put my money on this being the next single. The track’s back beat is finger clicking, building up to full blown Daft Punk at their best. Another club hit I am sure, and you will be singing along!
Extra
In side the back of the album is the ’Daft Card’. This allows you to log onto http: http://www.daftclub.com and download the ’Daft Player’ and some remixes and bonus tracks. Fantastic idea but isn’t available for a Mac at the moment. Also the insert would make a great poster with it’s contemporary light movement image. There isn’t a bonus track on my album but I have heard rumours that they are out there. Also the continental release has two additional track so see if you can get an import.
Overall, I don’t think this album is as good as Homework, but it runs a very close second. In it’s favour Homework was very different to anything else at the time and in that sense became very genre defining. In Discovery they are really pioneering the 80?s revival but in a very up to the minute way. Having said all that, these guys don’t have to live up to anything or anyone’s expectations - they’re Daft Punk!