raganellis

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Thu, 16 May 2013 00:56:00 -0400

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Thu, 16 May 2013 00:54:46 -0400

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Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:59 -0400

hitsvilleuk: Since 1997, Daft Punk have been a monolith in...

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:56:14 -0400

hitsvilleuk:

Since 1997, Daft Punk have been a monolith in dance music. Even those with only a vague interest in music will know their name, and everyone knows the vocoded splendour of “One More Time”, Around The World and countless other Daft Punk game-changers. Silent in the music media stretching back even to around the time of 2010’s Tron: Legacy soundtrack, Daft Punk have been incubating the seminal electronic music album.

It’s early days to call this a masterpiece, but on first, second, and third listens Random Access Memories evokes enough enthusiasm in me to use the word. Album opener “Give Life Back To Music” begins the journey not unlike David Bowie’s Starman, with rising guitars and pianos but soon drops off into a smooth trademark Daft Punk jam. Vocoded vocals are one of the staples of this album - unlike previous Daft Punk records where they played a bit part - Daft Punk are singing on almost every song on this record. Nile Rodgers’ guitar influence on this track and most others is unmistakable and absolutley crucial to capturing the sound of disco that Daft Punk have been so notoriously trying to capture on this album. Give Life Back To Music sets an early precedent and the album never fails to meet or exceed that precedent. Melancholy vocoders wobble over the rainy Game of Love, punctuated by electric jazz pianos and a rumbling bassline.

“Giorgio By Moroder” is the first of several musical peaks that the album has, an odyssey of dance and disco music narrated by electronic pioneer Giorgio Moroder. At the song’s crescendo, live drums and soaring strings are the centrepiece before it busts right back into vintage synth arpeggios. Within props itself gently between Giorgio and the awesome “Instant Crush” which takes cue from the Strokes and has a distinctly Strokes feel to it, though Julian Casablancas’ vocals are vocoded and the music is largely synth and bass. “Lose Yourself To Dance” is the second of three Nile Rodgers collaborations and Rodgers’ impact is felt most fondly on this track, as Rodgers’ guitar and Pharrell Williams’ vocals bounce off of each other. “Touch” is a briefly jarring track as former Carpenter Paul Williams takes up vocal duties for a track which halves the album perfectly, switching from strictly disco and electronic influences to an Elton John-esque piano break and children’s choirs covering the length of the song. Daft Punk have made a very clear statement on Touch as with the rest of the album: their vision for making music isn’t at the mercy of anyone’s prejudice. Daft Punk have made a record that is an album in the same way that Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon is an album - start to finish, the album doesn’t break stride covering a plethora of influences and ambitions.

The second half of the album is a fitting partner to the first, with “Beyond” capturing the sound of the 80s with another smooth jam, a little bit soft rock, but still not far from “Digital Love” or “Something About Us”, where “Doin’ It Right” matches Daft Punk’s original minimalism and teams up with Animal Collective’s Panda Bear for something new. “Contact” is an album closer to close all album closers. Daft Punk have done something really special on Random Access Memories and I’m not sure what it is, but 2013 is now officially the Year of the Robot.

★★★★★★★★★★

"I don’t know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone."

Tue, 14 May 2013 20:34:28 -0400

“I don’t know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone.”

- Bill Cosby (via quote-book)

In the words of Biggie Smalls himself,

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:00:31 -0400

I’m going back to Cali. Except for good.

Yesterday the stars were aligned in my favor. Thanks American...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:50:31 -0400

Yesterday the stars were aligned in my favor. Thanks American Airlines for the extra day with my lover. I’ve never been so appreciative of a series of events or of a human being. Love you Marcus, see you so soon @ikilledtsimfukis

I’m not ready to go home though

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:50:20 -0400

I’m not ready to go home though

at Mojave Stage

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:50:11 -0400

at Mojave Stage

We made it (at Coachella Ferris Wheel)

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:49:59 -0400

We made it (at Coachella Ferris Wheel)

👋 (at RDU International Airport)

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:49:49 -0400

👋 (at RDU International Airport)

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Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:22:32 -0400

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Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:19:44 -0400

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Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:17:59 -0400

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Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:17:14 -0400

Honestly I’m the best that I’ve been in years. Never have I been so comfortable in my...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:47:00 -0400

Honestly I’m the best that I’ve been in years. Never have I been so comfortable in my own skin and never have I been so grateful for all that I have. I’m falling more in love each day and honestly life has never been better.

"If you spend too much time trying to find out what is good or bad about someone else, you’ll forget..."

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:36:37 -0400

“If you spend too much time trying to find out what is good or bad about someone else, you’ll forget your own soul and end up exhausted and defeated by the energy you have wasted in judging others.”

- Paulo Coelho
(via h-o-r-n-g-r-y)

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Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:30:45 -0400

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Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:29:37 -0400

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Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:20:23 -0400