Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition) | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 12 May 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2008–2013 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 110:46 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Daft Punk chronology | ||||
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Singles from Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition) | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Clash | 9/10 [1] |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10 [2] |
Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition) is the third compilation album by French electronic duo Daft Punk. It is an anniversary reissue of the duo's final studio album Random Access Memories containing an extra disc with 35 minutes of bonus content, including unreleased demos and outtakes. The reissue was released on 12 May 2023.
On 22 February 2021, Daft Punk announced they had split. [3] Exactly two years later, on 22 February 2023, the duo announced a 10th anniversary edition of Random Access Memories would release, containing a bonus disc of demos and outtakes. [4] This was the second of several consecutive years the group announced a new release or celebratory event on the anniversary of their split, with the day eventually being referred to as "Daft Punk Day." A 25th anniversary release of their album Homework , including a newly compiled remix album, was announced on 22 February 2022, and a Twitch livestream of the duo's 2003 film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem occurred on 22 February 2024. [5] [6]
Thomas Bangalter, during the promotion of his solo project Mythologies , said Daft Punk had wanted to not "spoil the narrative" while they were active, but felt more comfortable revealing parts of their creative process now that "the story has ended". [7]
The reissue includes the version of "Touch" used in the video announcing Daft Punk's disbandment. A Dolby Atmos version of the reissue was also released the same day as the reissue, featuring the original 13 album tracks and “The Writing of Fragments of Time” remixed in the format. [8]
The first single from the reissue, "The Writing of Fragments of Time", featuring Todd Edwards, was released on 22 March, along with a music video directed by Daft Punk's creative director, Cédric Hervet. [9] "GLBTM (Studio Outtakes)" was released on 20 April, featuring previously unused studio recordings by Chilly Gonzales and other session musicians for "Give Life Back to Music". [10] [11]
Another single, "Infinity Repeating (2013 Demo)", features Julian Casablancas and the Voidz. The song and an accompanying music video directed by Warren Fu premiered on 11 May at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. [12] [13] Casablancas discussed the song in interviews in 2014. [14] [15] The music video, the song, and the structuring of the bonus disc of the reissue are all based on an infinity loop. [16] Daft Punk called the track their "last song ever" in its press release. [17] A four-part video series focusing on the making of the music video was released in December. [18] [19]
The week before the reissue's release, coordinates and the date of 11 May 2023 appeared in Spotify visualizers for specific songs off the original album, teasing a global event happening in ten cities: Berlin, Buenos Aires, London, Mexico City, New York City, Paris, Santa Monica, São Paulo, Sydney, and Tokyo. [20] [21] Later that week, it was revealed that Snapchat had partnered with Daft Punk's creative team to promote the reissue using augmented reality filters and lenses. [22] Worldwide users could use the app to get early access to the track "Horizon", with attendees at the ten cities getting to participate in a geolocated scavenger hunt. Participants at the locations could use the Snapchat filter to find Monoliths playing snippets of the "Infinity Repeating" music video. [23] [24] [25]
The release of the reissue resulted in the album reappearing at the top of the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart and within the top 10 on the Billboard 200. [26] [27]
In promotion of the 10th anniversary reissue, the band released a video series throughout the year called Memory Tapes. [28] The series' guests include Julian Casablancas, Chilly Gonzales, Panda Bear, DJ Falcon, Todd Edwards, Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams and Chris Caswell. [29] The videos were shot at Gang Studios in Paris and Henson Studios in Los Angeles and feature behind-the-scenes footage of the recording of Random Access Memories. [30] [31]
Made up of eight episodes, the series features many of the album's collaborators reflecting on the duo's status, music, and split. Julian Casablancas discusses the creation of "Instant Crush" and "Infinity Repeating," saying he thought the latter was a fitting song to "end Daft Punk on forever," while also joking that the idea was "dramatic," not believing the duo would stay permanently split. [32] [33] Chilly Gonzales called the duo's work on the album "Stanley Kubrick levels of planning" when discussing his piano solo on "Within." [34]
Collaborators DJ Falcon and Todd Edwards spoke on the duo's split as well, with Falcon specifically praising the choice to end Daft Punk with the song and video for "Infinity Repeating". [35] Edwards expressed regret that Daft Punk did not tour Random Access Memories, but stated he was not shocked when they split, saying the two "were already going in different directions, musically". [36] [37]
Pharrell Williams revealed in his episode that he did not expect the finished versions of "Get Lucky" or "Lose Yourself to Dance" to feature his vocals, assuming both songs would be sung by other artists. [38] Williams said he was so focused during the writing and recording sessions that he forgot what the material had sounded like, due to the length of time between meetings and the lack of access to the material. His episode contains footage of Williams' reaction to hearing both finished tracks for the first time. [39]
Nile Rodgers described the experience of working with the duo as life-changing, saying "life was one way before Random Access Memories, and completely different after." Rodgers called the album's impact a learning experience and spoke about how the album led to him collaborating with younger artists of different cultures. [40] The final episode of Memory Tapes features Chris Caswell and Paul Williams. The two discuss first meeting Daft Punk, the importance of Phantom of the Paradise to the duo's history, and end by thanking them for making an album that encourages listeners to "explore," stating "there's so much out there." [41]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Give Life Back to Music" | 4:34 | |
2. | "The Game of Love" |
| 5:22 |
3. | "Giorgio by Moroder" |
| 9:04 |
4. | "Within" |
| 3:48 |
5. | "Instant Crush" (with Julian Casablancas) |
| 5:37 |
6. | "Lose Yourself to Dance" (with Pharrell Williams) |
| 5:53 |
7. | "Touch" (with Paul Williams) |
| 8:19 |
8. | "Get Lucky" (with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers) |
| 6:09 |
9. | "Beyond" |
| 4:50 |
10. | "Motherboard" |
| 5:41 |
11. | "Fragments of Time" (with Todd Edwards) |
| 4:39 |
12. | "Doin' It Right" (with Panda Bear) |
| 4:11 |
13. | "Contact" |
| 6:23 |
Total length: | 74:28 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Horizon Ouverture" |
| 2:08 |
15. | "Horizon (Japan CD)" |
| 4:25 |
16. | "GLBTM (Studio Outtakes)" |
| 6:22 |
17. | "Infinity Repeating (2013 Demo)" (with Julian Casablancas + The Voidz) |
| 4:00 |
18. | "GL (Early Take)" (with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers) |
| 0:33 |
19. | "Prime (2012 Unfinished)" |
| 4:46 |
20. | "LYTD (Vocoder Tests)" (with Pharrell Williams) |
| 2:08 |
21. | "The Writing of Fragments of Time" (with Todd Edwards) |
| 8:17 |
22. | "Touch (2021 Epilogue)" (with Paul Williams) |
| 3:00 |
Total length: | 110:46 |
Sample credits
Adapted from the liner notes. The bonus disc, other than "Horizon", does not have individual performer credits. [43]
Additional musicians
Orchestra
| Production
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork | 5.4/10 [44] |
On 28 September 2023, Daft Punk announced another anniversary reissue, a remix album called Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition). It was released on 17 November 2023 and includes the original 13 album tracks without any drum or percussive elements. "Within (Drumless Edition)" and "Motherboard (Drumless Edition)" were released as promotional singles. [45] [46] As with the 10th anniversary reissue, a Dolby Atmos version of the reissue was also released the same day. [47] [48]
Reception to the drumless edition was mixed, with outlets, critics, and fans unsure of the specific purpose of the release, with some speculation it was for DJs and producers to make their own mixes using the album. [49]
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [50] | 14 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [51] | 20 |
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) [52] | 50 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [53] | 11 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [54] | 8 |
Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [55] | 4 |
Daft Punk were a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 in Paris by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They achieved early popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement, combining elements of house music with funk, disco, techno, rock and synth-pop. The duo garnered further acclaim and commercial success and are now regarded as one of the most influential acts in dance music history.
Thomas Bangalter is a French musician, record producer, singer, songwriter, DJ and composer. He is best known as one half of the former French house music duo Daft Punk, alongside Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. He has recorded and released music as a member of the trio Stardust, the duo Together, as well as a solo artist. Bangalter's work has influenced a wide range of artists in various genres.
French electronic music duo Daft Punk released four studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, one soundtrack album, five remix albums, two video albums, twenty-two singles and nineteen music videos. Group members Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo met in 1987 while studying at the Lycée Carnot secondary school. They subsequently recorded several demo tracks together, forming Daft Punk in 1993. Their debut single "The New Wave" was released the following year on the Soma Quality Recordings label. Daft Punk first found commercial success with the release of their second single "Da Funk", which peaked at number seven in France and topped the United States Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Todd Edward Imperatrice, known professionally as Todd Edwards, is an American garage house record producer, DJ and singer. Edwards has been an influence on electronic music, being an inspiration for the French house duo Daft Punk and helping create the UK garage genre.
Stéphane Quême, known as DJ Falcon, is a French DJ, record producer and photographer. He is the brother of Delphine Quême (Quartet) and a cousin of Alan Braxe.
Random Access Memories is the fourth and final studio album by the French electronic music duo Daft Punk, released on 17 May 2013 through Columbia Records. It pays tribute to late 1970s and early 1980s American music, particularly from Los Angeles. This theme is reflected in the album's packaging, as well as its promotional campaign, which included billboards, television advertisements and a web series. Recording sessions took place from 2008 to 2012 at Henson, Conway and Capitol Studios in California, Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and Gang Recording Studio in Paris, France.
"Get Lucky" is a song written and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk featuring American singer Pharrell Williams and American musician Nile Rodgers. Daft Punk released the song as the lead single from their fourth and final studio album, Random Access Memories, on 19 April 2013. Before its release as a single, it was featured in television advertisements broadcast during Saturday Night Live, after which Rodgers and Williams announced their involvement in the track. "Get Lucky" is a house-inspired disco, funk, and pop track with lyrics that, according to Williams, are about the good fortune of connecting with someone, as well as sexual chemistry. Upon release, it received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised Williams's vocals and Rodgers's guitar riffs.
"Doin' It Right" is a song written and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Panda Bear of the band Animal Collective. It is a track on Daft Punk's fourth studio album Random Access Memories (2013), and was the last to be recorded for the album. The song was distributed to American alternative radio stations on 3 September 2013 as the third single from Random Access Memories. Prior to this, it appeared on record charts in France, the United States and the United Kingdom due to digital downloads of the album. "Doin' It Right" received a positive critical reception, with some reviewers opining it as the group's best work out of the entire LP.
"Contact" is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk. It is the thirteenth and final track from the duo's fourth studio album Random Access Memories, released on 17 May 2013. The track was written and produced by the duo, with additional writing and co-production by DJ Falcon. Daryl Braithwaite, Tony Mitchell, and Garth Porter are also credited as writers due to the song containing a sample of "We Ride Tonight" by Australian rock band The Sherbs. The song includes audio from the Apollo 17 mission, courtesy of NASA and Captain Eugene Cernan. Due to digital downloads of Random Access Memories, the song charted at number 46 on the French Singles Chart and at number 24 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
"Lose Yourself to Dance" is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk featuring American singer Pharrell Williams. Like their previous collaboration with fellow American musician Nile Rodgers, "Get Lucky", the song was written for Daft Punk's fourth studio album Random Access Memories (2013).
"Give Life Back to Music" is a song written and recorded by French electronic music duo Daft Punk for their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories. It is the opening track on the album. The song features lyrics performed by Daft Punk using vocoders. "Give Life Back to Music" also features album collaborators Nile Rodgers on guitar and Chilly Gonzales on keyboards. The song includes guitar work by Paul Jackson, Jr. and additional keyboards by Chris Caswell, with drums by John "J.R." Robinson and bass by Nathan East. The song was distributed to radio stations on 31 January 2014 as the album's fifth overall single and the final single from the album in 2014. Before this, it charted in France, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
"Giorgio by Moroder" is a song written and recorded by French electronic music duo Daft Punk for their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013). It is the third track on the album. The song features a monologue by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, who speaks about his early life and musical career. "Giorgio by Moroder" charted in France and Sweden due to downloads of the album.
Darkside is an American band based in New York City. The band was formed in Providence, Rhode Island in 2011 by electronic musician Nicolás Jaar and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington, both of whom were students at Brown University at the time. Their debut studio album, Psychic, was released in 2013 and was followed up by Spiral, released in 2021 after a lengthy hiatus.
"Instant Crush" is a song written, produced, and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk featuring American musician Julian Casablancas. It was released as the fourth single from Daft Punk's fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013), on 22 November 2013. It was number 58 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Best Songs of 2013 list.
Warren Fu is an American music video director, illustrator and designer. He has directed videos for artists such as the Weeknd, Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, The Strokes, the Killers, Hayley Williams, Mark Ronson and Julian Casablancas. Fu is signed to Partizan Entertainment worldwide for commercials and music videos, and Creative Artists Agency for feature films. He was also responsible for designing the concept art for General Grievous, one of the main antagonists in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
"Fragments of Time" is a song by written, produced, and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Todd Edwards. It is included in the duo's 2013 album Random Access Memories. "Fragments of Time" charted in France and the United States due to digital downloads of the album.
The Voidz are an experimental rock band. They consist of Julian Casablancas (vocals), Jeramy "Beardo" Gritter (guitar), Amir Yaghmai (guitar), Jacob "Jake" Bercovici, Alex Carapetis (drums), and Jeff Kite (keyboards).
"Touch" is a song written and recorded by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American singer-songwriter Paul Williams. "Touch" serves as the seventh track from the group's fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013). The song was featured in the American thriller TV series, Mr. Robot, and Daft Punk's farewell video, "Epilogue".
"Infinity Repeating" is a demo written, produced, and performed by French electronic music duo Daft Punk and American musician Julian Casablancas, along with Casablancas' band The Voidz handling additional instrumentation. Included as part of the 10th anniversary edition of Random Access Memories, it was released the same day as the reissue on 12 May 2023. It is considered by Daft Punk to be their "last song ever."
Exclu: Les morceaux de Random Access Memories commentés par Daft Punk.