For those that don’t know, Daft Punk’s new album Random Access Memories will officially be released next Tuesday. The hype about this record has been building ever since the day it was announced, and people kept freaking out thanks to seemingly random commercials featuring seconds of new music that aired during Saturday Night Live and other fare. Posters featuring the robot heads of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo also started to appear everywhere, including SXSW where it was hotly tipped that the duo would be performing a secret show. While that never happened, it certainly got and kept people talking. There’s been so much excitement in the lead up to this that I don’t fully understand why. Allow me to explain before you get all upset and angry with me. Daft Punk put on an incredible live show. I feel honored to have seen it a few years back, as my life certainly hasn’t quite been the same since. Yes, it’s one of those things you just don’t forget. They also don’t play many shows, which makes the rarity of them that much more special. I suppose it’s for that very reason that people love Daft Punk. Well, that and their two truly classic records of Homework and Discovery. Where my confusion lies is in how people can blissfully ignore the fact that these guys haven’t released a great album since 2001. For 99% of bands, if your last great album came out 12 years ago, you don’t have much of a career left to salvage. 2005’s Human After All was a major disappointment compared to what had been released previously, and things like a live album (without a DVD of the mindblowing visuals?!) or the soundtrack to Tron: Legacy simply didn’t cut it. You can basically call Random Access Memories an official follow-up to Human After All then, which I guess creates an 8 year “gap” of truly original, signature Daft Punk material to rebuild their empire and help fans forget. So this time with a massive collection of guest stars in tow, including Pharrell, Panda Bear, Nile Rodgers and Chilly Gonzales, the duo want to remind you why you fell in love with them in the first place. As the title suggests, they want you to randomly access your memories of their classic albums and insane live show to remember the good and forget the bad. They’re playing this game, and I’ve got to give them kudos for doing it right. With that, I’m pleased to tell you (if you didn’t already know) that Random Access Memories is now streaming in full over at iTunes. If you’re interested to hear what they’ve come up with, by all means have at it. Might I also recommend checking out today’s Pick Your Poison, since you’re already here? There’s some strong songs today from Arc Rev One, Four Tet, The Morals, VOWS and Young Hunting. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from The 1975, The Child of Lov (ft. Damon Albarn), The-Dream (ft. Jay-Z), The Love Language, Rogue Wave and Var.
The Delta Routine – New York Avenue
Four Tet – Unspoken (Promo Version)
The Herbaliser – Crimes & Misdemeanours (Lopez Remix)
Kyle Andrews – The Way to Wonder
The Morals – Birds
The Morals – Noah Part I
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Noble Drew Ali
No Middle Name – When Forever Ends
Shaun McGyver – 2 Stories With the Same Ending
Shooting Stansfield – Sign of the Times
Sivu – Bodies (Cloud Boat’s Let the Bodies Hit the Floor Remix)
Tracy Walton – If I Ever Get Away
Young Hunting – Wrecking Ball
SOUNDCLOUD
The 1975 – Haunt // Bed
The Child Of Lov – One Day (featuring Damon Albarn)
The-Dream – High Art (ft. Jay-Z)
The Love Language – Calm Down
Rogue Wave – Siren’s Song
Vår – Into Distance
