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If the European continent is a hotbed for club music then France
must be its Mecca, or at least you'll have that impression after
hearing Daft Punk's latest release Alive 2007. The
record was taped live from Daft Punk's show at Palais Omnisports
de Paris-Bercy on June 14, 2007. Their compositions are substantial
complexes made from several electronica-spooled intervals pieced
together and segued into segments that develop the movements like
the scenes of a movie. For instance, overtures like "Superheroes"
commence a chain reaction which rolls into the following movements
"Human After All" and "Rock 'N' Roll." Although
none of the music sounds like it can be interpreted as rock 'n'
roll, the songs have a techno-ambient flare and acid-pop vibe
that can be deemed as nu-disco. Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo
and Thomas Bangalter who make up Daft Punk are digital
wizards on their grand synthesizers and motherboards, similarly
to the Legion Of Doom. Produced by Paul Hahn, Alive
2007 was made for people to be mesmerized by the laps of sonic
feats that Christo and Bangalter can muster, as they make it into
a show swarming in layers of sound movements.
The opening track "Robot Rock" which segues into the
movement "Oh Yeah" takes a robotic drilling and morphs
into different sonic explorations and various electronica phrasings
so segments of notes are spliced, pleated, spun around, stretched,
bent, and shaped into wild contortions. Daft Punk carries on in
this liberating manner where their creativity is only limited
by their minds. They are like people who have to say what they
are thinking only the pair of Daft Punk translates their thoughts
into music. They show a level of freestyle as well as an inclination
to repeat segments like a drone similarly to a club's DJ. They
fuse many musical elements into their electronica like urban,
R&B-pop, and tribal influences which come together on the
track "Face To Face/Short Circuit." Digital notes shoot
out and zip up along the track "Burnin'/Too Long" as
the house beats are accentuated by thematic dance-club hooks.
Commercial hits for Daft Punk like "Harder Better Faster
Stronger" and "One More Time/Aerodynamic" sung
by Romanthony are focused on the vocal melodies while keeping
the synth spurts and electronic effects spinning around in a sieve.
The technique shows a skillfulness akin to producer Swizz Beatz
(Madonna, Buster Rhymes, Beyonce).
Alive 2007 is filled with electronica phrases that keep
the action busy. There aren't many moments when the music pauses
or takes a rest. Like products being rolled out on a conveyer
belt, the pair brings out one processed segment after another,
changing the dynamics here and there. Daft Punk's music is attractive
to specific audiences namely club goers, but there is also a world
music sense that enables these songs to appeal to a larger crowd.
As digitally processed as the music is, it comes alive when experienced
in a live setting.
-Susan Frances
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