Daft Punk Album: “Discovery”

Now this is interesting. Apparently these guys have been famous for quite a while, yet somehow I'd never heard of them. All that was remedied recently though. When I heard that Leiji Matsumoto had created a full-length animated feature with stunning animation based on an ablum by Daft Punk, I just had to check it out. While my opinion of that excellent piece of animation is mixed (I just didn't dig the story or think most of it matched the songs all that well), it did something to me. It made me buy the album it was based on "Discovery". Wow.

In this case, it seemed more like the music video was just a distraction than an extension of the music. When I first started listening to the album I thought it was okay, but as I progressed through it, listening to the songs in order, and then repeating some just to hear them one more time, I got HOOKED.

It's hard to describe. I love electronic music and techno and all that sort of thing, but this is different. The voices and music are all really just toyed with by the musical artists in these songs. Everything is just a way to get you into a feeling, of a rhythm, or a beat. The more you hear the songs, they more they grow on you, the more you get into them, the more you like them, the more you listen to them.

Take that song "One more time". That song is downright addictive! The beat is so infectious that I found I absolutely had to move to the song while I was listening to it. Ditto for the next three tracks. "Aerodynamic" is amazing because it uses electric guitar like a piano player uses his keyboard, not just for show, but to extend and play with a melody, finally turning it into a music-box version of itself before transforming into my favorite song on the album "Digital Love". I love that song. It's just so incredibly upbeat, happy, and beautiful. I love that song. A lot of people really love the next one, "Harder, better, faster, stronger". I didn't care for it at first, but it grows on you, to the point where I love it too now. My other favorite tracks include "Nightvision", "Superheroes" (why do I actually think of comic book superheroes when I hear that song?), and "Voyager".

This may be an acquired taste, but it's definitely a taste I'm glad I acquired. If you dig electronic music in general you should check it out. Just keep an open mind. This more than just more of the same repetitive techno/electronica you've heard. This is beautiful, original, and unique music. Great stuff. Give it a try.

Every song on Daft Punk's 'Discovery' is unique - no two songs sound alike. Daft Punk (in my opinion) really knew what they were doing when they put this album together; it's a wonderful expression of their love for dance music. My two favorite songs on here are "Digital Love" (#3) and "Face To Face" (#13).

"Digital Love" combines disco themes with classic rock a la Manfred Mann's 70's hit, "Blinded By The Light" - there's even a virtuoso guitar solo in the middle of the song. I hope "Digital Love" ends up being a single; I really, really like this one.

"Face To Face" is pure 80s, with a millenial feel to it. It combines elements of early Prince with a touch of New Order. This is my favorite song on the album...I wish it was longer.

Other tracks I must mention are "Aerodynamic" (#2), "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (#4), and "Crescendolls" (#5) [this song is zany, but I like it anyway]

If you enjoy songs like "Lady" by Modjo (sounds like George Michael to me), "I'll Fly With You" (Gigi D'Agostino) or ATC's "Around The World (La, La, La, La, La) - you'll appreciate this. Most (if not all) dance music fans are already familiar with track #1, "One More Time" by now; when you listen to it, it does feel like a celebration, doesn't it?

Just close your eyes and let this album take you away...

C.H.R.

This is a classic example of an album which is more than the sum of it's parts (read: tracks). Listening to Discovery is a journey, an atmospheric one. A little cheesy maybe, but it doesn't spoil the fun with this one. From the opening "One More Time" to the 10 minute during "Too Long", I can't stop myself to run to the stereo again and pressing play once more to take it all in. Ok, honestly, I'm not that into "Veridis Quo", yet it's of enough quality to not have me skip it. That said, any other track is outstanding, unique, and is filled with moments where you can tell Daft Punk have had a blast creating it. You can feel the joy and energy, and that is what seperates good albums from bad ones.

As I said, I pretty much adore every single track, but the highlight of the album must be whenever Discovery reaches track number 10 "Voyager". It sums an immense intensity of emotion, capturing the entire journey of the album in an 3,47 minute during fantasy. This song does something to me, something no other song has ever done.

Another thing I like my albums, is diversity of tracks. And Discovery got that with loads. Although some tracks tend to look a like, the complete package is best summed up as a joyfull rollercoaster, reaching highpoints of happyness and dancing joy, followed by moments of slower, yet highly melodical points of sadness.

Sure, if you're a high demanding listener who can criticize every single drum when listening with full attention, you may find the cheesy-ness disturbing. Yet, it doesn't deserve the low ratings I've seen flying around everywhere (not just here). It must not be compared with their debut Homework, which was packed with one after another moments of pumping beats. Discovery is here to please us in a completely different aspect. Lay down, close your eyes, and experience the journey which is called (clearly for a reason) Discovery. You'll memorize it as one of the best journey's till date.

Why do I find myself year after year listening to Discovery? Because it is one of the best albums out there I have ever heard. Even if you don't listen to techno or tronica there is something about this album that sets it apart from the rest of the albums in this genre. It's breathtaking, and rapidly changing, you never know whats coming next. Each song is well-crafted and packed with as many hooks as some bands used on an entire album.

From the dance tracks like "One More Time" and "Harder,Better Faster Stronger", to the variety of songs including "Face to Face", a nice vocal set, every song is a new experience. The album flows well and what the last song lacked the next makes up, its constant and hypnotic. I don't usually enjoy albums like this, but Discovery is an album that can suck the non-believer into this electronic world. It's addictive and so good that if you call yourself a music lover and you don't have Discovery, your lying.

Daft Punk's "Discovery" gets

A Bliss of 9

NOW....THIS IS WHAT I CAN CALL DANCE MUSIC ..IT IS M MIXTURE OF POP,ELECTRONIC,TECHNO,DISCO AND A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ.....IT'S..ONE OF A KIND . ...AND THIS ALBUM IS GREAT! IN THIS LATEST ALBUM BY THEM,YOU CAN FIND WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY ...AND WHAT TOUCHES YOUR SOUL..IT IS SIMPLE ..CLEAR ..DIFFERENT AND NO ONE EXTREMELY CAN HANDLE IT. IT'S ALSO DIFFICULT TO DECIDE YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK WHEN YOU LISTEN TO IT. THIS IS UNIQIE........THIS IS THE POWER OF MODERN DISCO!