Not much information has been spilled out about the new and highly anticipated album Random Access Memories, by the legendary French DJ duo Daft Punk. This would be their first album in over a decade, besides their live albums and soundtracks, and fans are excited to hear what the two robots composed for their huge network. But still, with only few days away from their May 21st release date, very little has been said about the album itself.
Of course, not everything about Random Access Memories has been held in the dark. There are commercials promoting the album, and its lead single “Get Lucky,” featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rogers, has seen a great amount of success ever since its release in April. Still, unlike other albums, there hasn’t been that much material from it being displayed for the public.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since SNL on Saturday you’ve probably heard about Daft Punk's cryptic teaser during Kevin Hart’s guest spot on the iconic sketch comedy show. Set to a disco beat, the clip shows a bright, white glittering Daft Punk logo slowly becoming incased into the split helmets worn by electro-legends Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. Currently, the merged helmet artwork and the Columbia Records’ logo are the only things on their website.
Often times it's hard to believe there was a time before our house music. When music festivals were one weekend and everyone jammed out in General Admission. Before it exploded and when it was just a small "underground thing." The entire genre has evolved over time taking on many different forms but it's an absolute must to go back to it's roots. From the disco days to the early 90s when house started making it's way over to the states. We've rounded up 8 songs that aren't exactly your hard hitting, bass-in-your-face, typical progressive house. These songs can be easily defined as the epitome of what house music really was.
1. Joachim Garraud- Are U Ready (Laidback Luke Remix)
2. Dirty South vs. Evermore- It's Too Late
Tristan Garner is following in the footsteps of French luminaries Daft Punk and Justice, but he doesn't stop there. Playing a classically French style of electro house, which by definition is a bit funkier and supersaturated than the stuff coming out of other places, Garner has gained quite a following in his native country and abroad. If his name isn't ringing a bell for some of you, I'm almost positive that you would recognize some of his songs, as they are played by some of the top DJs in the world. His hits include "Give Love," "Overdrive," and an underground hit "Fuckin Down." Here are a few samples to jog your memory:
Ya dig? He's playing THIS Saturday, May 5th at Santos Party House, headlining Electric Beach. Check out this link for tickets and more information. See y'all out there!
Call it neu-disco, nü-disco, French house, French touch, filter house, or even tekfunk. All of these terms refer to European-style dance-music that features disco loops and relies heavily on filter and phaser sound effects. It's usually high-energy and futuristic.
This next French duo, Jus†ice, consists of musicians Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. Jus†ice is an update on Daft Punk, melding heavy metal and rock sounds with the throbbing synth and funky disco loops of neu-disco. Then they add some bass that slaps. They're managed by Pedro Winter, head of French electronic music label Ed Banger Records. Also on this label are (were) French house greats Cassius, Uffie, and the late DJ Mehdi.
Arriving at Pacha NYC on Black Friday, the energy was evident before even walking through the doors. The venue was filled with partygoers all ready to dance off their Thanksgiving dinners and leftovers, at the prestigious New York City spot. Awaiting up and coming house DJ duo AN21 & Max Vangeli to headline the Black Friday event.
AN21(born Antoine Joseffson), the brother of Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello, has been working alongside Max Vangeli for the past year caught up with us before getting into the booth at Pacha to tell us a little bit more about themselves and their upcoming projects. Vangeli, named one of the "Top 5 DJs to watch in 2011" by the Top 100 DJ poll on DJMag.com, and AN21 have taken over clubs worldwide with remixes of Swedish House Mafia's Save the World as well as Pendulum's The Island. Both anticipating the gig, they gave the crowd one of the best sets in which I have seen them, if not the best. Feeling the vibes of the club rocking to the music, AN21 even attempted (and succeeded!) in crowd-surfing throughout Pacha's main floor! Definitely a night for the record books, as per usual, at Pacha NYC.
At the infamous 2008 VMAs, where Tommy Lee and Kid Rock fought over Pamela Anderson while Kanye West complained and moaned about not being offered the main stage, there were other good things to be noticed. That year, Justice was the featured “side-performance” artist and they did their best to impress.
Their effort wasn't in vain, as they put on excellent performances that featured other unknown and up-and-coming artists, like Daniel Merriweather and Robyn. Three years later, they are here with their second studio album, Audio, Video, Disco.
To be clear, this post is not meant to offend. It is meant to inform: those who don’t know about this phenomenon that’s literally taken over the recent music industry. Because while the sizable increase of popularity in house and progressive electronic music has converted many a new follower, there are still more wandering lost and confused in this mansion of a genre.
History Lesson :
House falls under the Umbrella Genre of Electronic Dance Music, or EDM. The creation of EDM can be associated with the nightclub scene since the 1980s. It is inherited from the electropop and even disco days of the 1970s.
Dec. 7: Natasha Bedingfield: Strip Me
Daft Punk: Tron Legacy Soundtrack
Deadmau5: 4×4=12
Duffy: Endlessly
Flyleaf: Remember to Live
Jaunes: P.A.R.C.E.
Adam Lambert: Acoustic Live!
Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More (Deluxe Edition)
Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine: 2010 Remaster (Vinyl)
Plain White T’s: Wonders of the Younger
Unless you have completely isolated yourself in your room creating your one-of-the-kind Halloween costume for the last 2 months, you have surely heard that Daft Punk is doing the soundtrack for the new Tron: Legacy movie. Watch the music video for the first released track, "Derezzed below.