Daft Punk--Random Access Memories

The moment of late spring has arrived--New Daft Punk!!!! And yes, it is worth the wait and worth owning!! Believe it or not, this time they have a full orchestra, a choir, and a host of bad ass modular synths ready...this is not a sample heavy album, it is an homage to all things analogue! Inspired by the AM-Radio, soft-rock, prog-pop, and disco eras of the late 70s into the early 80s, this album feels futuristic and retro at the same time. With luscious production and guest appearances from none other than Giorgio Moroder and Paul Williams, RAM has no shortage of surprises at how they make it work. We are meant to listen to RAM as a whole, a people did in the vinyl era, pre-walkmans and ipods. A particularly brilliant example is "Touch," where singer/songwriter Paul Williams conflates his work in Phantom of the Paradise and The Muppet Movie in the song's mystique, charm, and fragile yet unabashed emotions. Often, there's an almost gooey quality to the album; Daft Punk have never shied away from "uncool" influences or sentimentality, and both are on full display here. At first, it's hard to know what to make of all the fromage, but Random Access Memories reveals itself as the kind of grand, album rock statement that listeners of the '70s and '80s would have spent weeks or months dissecting and absorbing -- the ambition of Steely Dan, Alan Parsons, and Pink Floyd are as vital to the album as any of the duo's collaborators. For the casual Daft Punk fan, this album might be harder to love than "Get Lucky" hinted. After three listens, I feel it is a rewarding experience and I look forward to taking in the vinyl at home. Check out Giorgio Moroder talking about dance music and his work with Daft Punk! Buy your copy of the double 180 gm vinyl or CD here.