Parisian duo Thomas Bangalter & Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo aka Daft Punk quickly rose to acclaim by adapting a love for first-wave acid house and techno to their younger roots in pop, indie rock, and hip-hop. Formed in 1993 the duo released their debut single ‘Alive’ on celebrated techno label Soma which was instantly hailed by the dance music press as the work of a new breed of house innovators, the single was followed by ‘Da Funk’ the bands first true hit, they were quickly signed to Virgin Records and in 1997 the ground breaking ‘Homework’ album was released.
Albums: Discovery, Human After All, Musique and Alive have since followed to huge critical and commercial success all containing their unique dancefloor-oriented blend of house, funk, electro, and techno, with sprinklings of hip-hop-styled breakbeats and excessive, crowd-firing samples.
What their legions of fans and dance music lovers may be not aware of is their love of a good sample, some of which have been rounded up on this crucial collection - original tracks that form the basis of their most known hits including ‘Da Funk’ , ‘Around The World’ and ‘Harder Better Stronger Faster’ and may more…
Ten years on since the release of ‘Homework’ the band continue to win new fans and remain in the spotlight, playing at every major festival and embarking on a world tour and releasing their debut film ‘Electroma’
We all know that ‘Acceptable In The 80s’ is among the Top Ten best things to happen this year and now here is the full Calvin Harris long player. Living up to the debut single was always going to be hard work but Harris makes a bloody good go of it: follow-up ‘The Girls’ sounds like a tune you’ve been dancing to for the past six years, as well as sounding like it’ll be on the radio every few minutes for the next six months. Even better is ‘Merry Making At My Place’, which is like ‘Rudebox’ but with a proper bassline and a point. Other moments of goodness include the title track and ‘Vegas’, although the 80s-aping latter does veer dangerously close to self plagiarism with a bassline almost identical to ‘Acceptable In The 80s’. At times Harris seems a little unsure of who or what he wants to be - ‘Neon Rocks’ sounds like something Gwen Stefani might Hoover up for one of her big important albums, the title track wouldn’t sound out of place on a Daft Punk album and ‘In The Industry’ wobbles dangerously near to The World Of Indie. But if everything sounded the same we’d be listening to a Snow Patrol record and we’re not. This is Calvin Harris, and bloody good his album is too.
Dear fierceness –can you come out to play? Goth-punk goddess Siouxsie Sioux hasn’t sounded this tough since the Banshees fell apart more than a decade ago. She recently split with husband and musical partner Budgie, who drummed for the Banshees and joined her in the globe-trotting adventures of the Creatures; it’s the goth equivalent of a royal divorce. But with all her cities in dust, Siouxsie concentrates all her eccentric music powers on her first solo album ever, one where you don’t have to keep telling yourself “but it’s Siouxsie” to pay attention. Great hooks like “Loveless” and “About to Happen” twist the tricks she’s re-learned from young disciples such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars and Arcade Fire. She busts out her Frau Blucher voice for crypt-cabaret ballads like “Sea of Tranquility”and “Heaven and Alchemy,” switching into latex-dominatrix mode for the brassy ersatz Bond theme “Here Comes That Day.” After thirty years in the game, Siouxsie still can’t be stopped.
Dear DFA, why wasn’t there a label like you around in 1990 when me and my friends had about 15 pretentious and arty bands exactly like prinzhorn dance school? If anything, I love this prinzhorn dance school album because it perfectly preserves the memories of skinny black-clad, cheap red wine swilling art scoundrels the world over. Minimalist and repetitive, most of the tunes are just bass and drums, or bass and guitar, with shouty verses of two or so stanzas, perfect if you are drunk, or on meth or both.
The album is stunningly simple and uncomplicated - my 3 year old gets it and I can’t argue with that. Now we both stomp around and shout out the songs together while his sohpisticated and disapproving 5 year old sister watches until, she too is forced to join in.
