Review: Daft Punk "Random Access Memories" (2013)

Daft Punk are THE pinnacle of the electronic music "around the world", agreeing with the name of one of their songs.

These mysterious and iconic band composed by the sophisticated French duo Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are, finally, back!
After a (quite-long) hiatus - if you don't recall Daft Punk's last album was Human After All, released in 2005 and without counting with an adventurous trip through the soundtrack world with Tron: Legacy in 2010 - the band returns with Random Access Memories, which is, for sure, the most expected album of the year, or in Randall Roberts from LA Times words: "(...) no doubt be one of the most polarizing records of the year(...)".

The first thing that is extremely exciting with Daft Punk's Random Access Memories is the way they chose to announce and promote this record, following a gradual and exquisite promotional marketing - using resources like billboards, television adversiting, small teasers and a web series, that we would find somehow outdated but it worked for Daft Punk.
Daft Punk are old school, they don't really care about what people expect from them and they surely like to emphasize that.

"Doing it right, everybody will be dancing 
and we're feeling it right, everybody will be dancing 
and be doing right, everybody will be dancing 
and you're feeling all right, everybody will be dancing tonight"
from Doin' Right (feat. Panda Bear)

Random Access Memories, or RAM, shows that Daft Punk continues to be the masters of electronic, using more natural elements, bringing an unconventional and characteristic sound like powerful guitar lines, strong upbeat drums and surprisingly some wind instruments, like clarinets - just to mention some elements that are present on this record.
This "human" side contrasts with the "robotic" life that they tried to bright during the last years, especially with their "masks", performances and their synthesized voices.

This album is peculiar because it pays a beautiful tribute to the late 70's and early 80's of the music scene, particularly the sound from the North American artists, bringing up the sound and spirit of those times.
Another curiosity about RAM is the process of recording which involved, mostly, live instruments with live musicians, limiting the electronics to drum machines, modular synthesizers and vintage vocoders.

The amount of collaborations for this record is really unique, counting with Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Panda Bear, Julian Casablancas, Giorgio Moroder, Todd Edwards, just to name a few.

One of my favorite things about this record is its consistency along more than 70 minutes. We can experience so many different sensations along the way.
From a melodramatic (in the best possible meaning of this word), and cheesy, The Game of Love, to the curious Within or even the lead single, and probably the most animated song from the record, Get Lucky, we can feel a lot of emotions through out the record and that's really exciting - sometimes we get the most festive version of Daft Punk and, at some point, we are having a melodic memory. That's how talented Daft Punk are!
Without losing their sound and electronic spirit, they show how further and different the electronic music can be and that's the most exciting thing we can get from this RAM.

There are songs that have really blown my mind, thanks to their timeless transcendence like Lose Yourself To Dance with Pharrell Williams, with a touch of bugginess and freedom or Touch by the hands (and vocals) of the legendary singer-songwriter Paul Williams.

The transitions from track to track are just delicious - we can listen to elements of the following song but we only realise it when it ends because we get so caught up and lost in each song's memories.

Must-listen songs: Get Lucky, The Game of Love, Instant Crush and Doin' Right.

Concluding, whatever you think you know about electronic music - Daft Punk will break it. Random Access Memories re-designed, re-created their vision and explored a new perspective, mixing both past and future, creating a really involving, spiritual, vivid and most of all, a Daft Punk vision. With an innovating sound, a record with flaws ( but by flaws I mean a state of imperfection that brings a beautiful and constant aura to the entire RAM idea). And the idea in Daft Punk's Fragments of Time, couldn't be more clear than this:"I'll just keep playing back, this fragments of time".
Mostly and genuinely epic.

The robots are back for good, gladly!

Marta Ren, Summer's Gone

Marta Ren is a wild and burly voice and the way it contrasts with the soul/rocksteady sound, very characteristic in the 60's, is really catchy and interesting.

Even though, her first music steps were taken with bands like Sloopy Joe, Bombazines and the cover band The Funkalicious - who, essentially, performed songs from Aretha Franklin to James Brown, Marta Ren is now giving her steps as a solo artist.

About the recording sessions for her album, it's possible to see how much it respected the 60 and 70's old school methods, preserving all the typical sonority very used during those times. Along the way, the artist counted with New Max - better known for being part of Expensive Soul.

The best proof of this hard work is the first single Summer's Gone. The song reflects a very joyful and easy-going beat that conquests everyone for being so fresh and original.

This is a great example of the quality that we have in Portugal, artists like this should be widely revealed to the world, it's a pity if others don't see Marta Ren too.

"You passed me by 

You didn't seem real

Suppose I'm digging

To get my dream"

Bruno Mars, Locked Out Of Heaven

Bruno Mars is the artistic name of the American singer-songwriter Peter Géne Hernández.

Being surrounded by musicians his entire life, it wasn't a surprise to see him follow his family steps.
After an unsuccessful link with Motown Records, he signed with Atlantic Records in 2009 - where he was able to become recognised not only as a songwriter but also as a singer after singing and co-writing the hit songs Nothin' On You by B.O.B. and Billionaire by Travie McCoy.

His first record Doo-Wops & Hooligans was released in 2010, we wrote a review that can be seen here, was successfully acclaimed by critics and had has main singles songs like Just The Way You Are and Grenade.
He also counts with an EP It's Better If You Don't Understand, in 2010.

Bruno Mars is also responsible for hit songs like It Will Rain, Marry Me or The Lazy Song.

The also Grammy winner has recently released his second very expected studio album on December 11, 2012 under the name Unorthodox Jukebox.

The lead single Locked Out Of Heaven is a very interesting reggae funky and new spirited song by this young man.
Besides the instant resembles with The Police, Michael Jackson and even Dire Straits, I would  really accentuate on The Police's sound which is notorious during the quick up-beated rhythms.
This funky jive, easy-going song about a certain girl and what he feels about her really got into my most favourite singles of this year. The video is really elemantary but serving the purpose of the song - easy to listen, catchy and with a lot of groove, something really vintage like it was recorded on VHS videotapes.

All the energy, all the mystery around Locked Out Of Heaven brings the song to a new level of joyfulness.

"Never had much faith in love or miracles

Never wanna put my heart on the line

But swimming in your world is something spiritual

I'm gonna get every time you spank the night"

Anarchicks - Restraining Order

Anarchicks get together in 2001 to make a revolution. The magic formula?! Four girls. They are:

• Pris, aka Playgirl (vocals, bass and synth), founder of the electronic project Press Play, played bass and synth in U-Clic and is currently parto f the Ilplaygirl project;
• Helena aka Synthetique Red who plays the bass, synth and also sings. She was the founder of Mediatic Slaves, and was also bassist/keyboardist of different projects and is currently part of After101 (a music electronic project);
• Catarina aka Katari, the drummer. Played in Act of Anger and Living Dead Act. Recently, collaborated with JESUS K & the sicksicksicks and is nowadays drummer and vocalist of CASAL VENTOSO.
• Ana aka JD, in guitar and bass, she was the founder member (as a drummer) of Random Notes, a Funk project, guitarist in Too Much To Touch and currently plays in a tribute band to The Beatles, Oh! Darling, as guitarrist and keyboardist.

Look What You Made Me Do was recorded by them and it was their very first EP. You can hear it here: http://chifre.org/project/anarchicks/ .

Restraining Order is the first music to be released as the first single of their first album – Really?! - to be released in the end of January by Chifre, an independent editor. It was recorded by Blacksheepstudios by Makoto Wagyu (Paus, If Lucy Fell) and Fábio Jevelim (Riding Pânico), and mixed by Pedro Chamorra (Voxels).

The single is available for free download in their page: http://chifre.org/anarchicks-restraining-order .

Following is a video of their live performance in Seixal:

From the Pop, Punk, Funk and a bit of Kuduro and Disco, these girls explore a bit of everything.

So far, the Anarchicks have 2 confirmed shows to take place at Vodafone Mexefest, in the 7th and 8th of December, in Vodafone Bus!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnarChicks

Olly Murs, Dance With Me Tonight

Olly Murs is a 28-year-old English singer-songwriter, who's career started after being part of the TV show The X Factor, in 2009.

With two released studio albums - Olly Murs released in November 2010 and In Case You Didn't Know in November 2011, he got several hits like Please Don't Let Me Go or Hearts Skips a Beat (featuring Rizzle Kicks).

Dance With Me Tonight is taken from In Case You Didn't Know and released as single in November 18, 2011. The song reached the number #1 on several countries like UK and Scotland.

Directed by Marcus Lundin, the video starts with Olly going to a police station and making funny poses to the camera, after being arrested with his friends and loved girl.
The main idea is that Olly is trying to conquer a girl and trows a big party in the middle of the street with dancing, fireworks and music.
The video is set in Putney Bridge and some parts of Fulham, besides snapshots of other places.

This song features the new Muppets movie - on the UK soundtrack as bonus track.

"I was wondering if you and me could spend a minute,

On the floor up and close getting lost in it,

I won't give up without a fight."

themed week // Michael Jackson, Smooth Criminal

Michael Jackson is an icon, considered to be the King of Pop due to all his life, career, talent and scandals.
"Michael Jackson is considered to be the most successful entertainer of all times."

To know a bit more about this iconic artist click here.

With 10 studio albums, other many compilations and that only on his solo career, Jackson is a timeless artist influencing artists from several genres and generations.

Smooth Criminal is the seventh single taken from his 1987 album Bad.
The song is about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked on her apartment. Smooth Criminal is also the theme song for Michael Jackson's 1988 movie Moonwalker.

The song had two early versions written in 1985 and a demo was recorded in 1986. A first version was called Chicago 1945 about Al Capone, but didn't make into the album so he re-wrote and work on the song until the known Smooth Criminal.

For a full version check this.

"So they came into the out way
It was Sunday - what a black day
Mouth to mouth resus - citation
Sounding heartbeats - intimidations"

News // Red Hot Chili Peppers with a new video

The North-american band Red Hot Chili Peppers released recently a new video.

Look Around  released as single on January 25, 2012 belongs to the band's tenth album I'm With You and was recorded before the singer Anthony Kiedis injured his foot, affecting the North-American tour.

The video directed by Robert Hales reflects each members personality, with "almost all the props and artwork in the video are from each band member's personal collection. In Anthony's room, model Charlotte Free, his dog and son Everly are featured. Flea is seen in his room dancing around in his underwear with current girlfriend, Sandha Khin, also in her underwear. Chad's room is a bathroom where his seat is a toilet and there is also a punching bag. Josh's room is very dark and empty with just a table and lamp."

Friendly Fires, Hurting

Friendly Fires are an English band, formed by Ed Macfarlane, Jack Savidge and Edd Gibson.

The band's name comes from a track taken from the English post-punk band Section 25's album Always Now, released in 1981.

Known for songs like Hawaiian Air, Paris and Blue Cassette, they are inspired by "lush shoegaze melodies" and "classic pop songwriting" naming as main inspiration Kompakt, Carl Craig and Prince.

Currently signed by XL Recordings, they've released 2 studio albums - Friendly Fires (2008) and Pala (2011) and three EPs - Photobooth (2006), Cross The Line (2007) and The Remix EP (2007).

Pala was released on May 16 2011 and charted at number 6 on the UK Albums Charts. The album names comes from Aldous Huxley novel Island - telling the story of a journalist shipwrecked on an fiction Island, Pala.
Hurting is the last released single from the album, confirmed on October 10, 2011.

"I can feel in my body
Standin' tall I make the moves

With the sun kissing my face
There's no way that I can lose"

themed week // Michael Jackson, Thriller

Michael Jackson.

From the moonwalk, Thriller, Jackson 5 passing through scandals and King of Pop, Michael Jackson is considered to be the most successful entertainer of all times.

He began his career in 1964 with his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, creating the very successful group The Jackson 5.
In 1971, Michael started his solo career, turning to the dominant figure on the 80's not only for his live performances but also for his music talent.

He released 10 studio albums - Got To Be There (1972), Ben (1972), Music & Me (1973), Forever, Michael (1975), Off The Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) and Invincible (2001).

Thanks to his work and long contribution to music and culture, not mentioning his own records and performances - Jackson is a very rewarded artist, receiving several Guinness World Records, Grammy Awards and American Music Awards.

Thriller is the most successful album of all times. This record was released in 1982, selling over 20 million copies around the world. Thriller includes some of the most known songs like Beat It or Billie Jean.

The self-titled song was the seventh and the last single taken from Thriller, released in 1984.
The songs initial title was supposed to be Starlight but the writer Rob Temperton once commented
"Originally, when I did my Thriller demo, I called it Starlight. Quincy said to me, 'You managed to come up with a title for the last album, see what you can do for this album.' (...) I went back to the hotel, wrote two or three hundred titles, and came up with the title 'Midnight Man'. The next morning, I woke up, and I just said this word... Something in my head just said, this is the title."

Temperton also said that during the writing process he always imagined a talking section at the end, but he didn't know how and what to do until he decided "to have somebody, a famous voice, in the horror genre, to do this vocal" ending with Vincent Price - an American actor known for his distinguish voice and semi-comic attitude on horror movies.

The video for this song is a 14-minute short film based on the ideologies of the horror music from the 1950s. Shortly the plot of this film is about a couple - Michael and Ola Ray - and the guy asks her if she would marry him, what she replies yes. After he warns her that "he is different". He sees a full moon and transforms into a weird creature somewhere between a zombie and a werewolf.

Check the entire 14-minute video below.

"You hear the door slam

And realize there's nowhere left to run

You feel the cold hand

And wonder if you'll ever see the sun

You close your eyes"

Joss Stone, Right To Be Wrong

I am on a low profile music.
Joss Stone née Joscelyn Eve Stoker born in Dover, England is a soul and R&B songwriter and singer that already won several BRIT awards and Grammy Award.
She grew up listening to huge soul artists like Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield.
With three sold out albums "The Soul Sessions" (2003), "Mind, Body & Soul" (2004), probably her best album and best known, "Introducing Joss Stone" (2007) and "Colour Me Free!" (2009), . She has also made a few appearances on the big screens such as actress like Eragon as giving her vocals to soundtracks like Fantastic Four.

This song comes from the album "Mind, Body & Soul", I song that I should listen more often. Brings me such good feelings, such confidence, such open-minded opinions.
It's about being human - we can fail but we can also fight to improve and correct what we did wrong.
I like this song, keeps me aware!

"I've got a right to be wrong

My mistakes will make me strong
I'm stepping out into the great unknown
I'm feeling wings though I've never flown
I've got a mind of my own
I'm flesh and blood to the bone
I'm not made of stone
Got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone

I've got a right to be wrong
I've been held down too long
I've got to break free
So I can finally breath
I've got a right to be wrong
Got to sing my own song
I might be singing out of key
But it sure feels good to me
Got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone

You're entitled to your opinion
But it's really my decision
I can't turn back I'm on a mission
If you care don't you dare blur my vision
Let me be all that I can be
Don't smother me with negativity
Whatever's out there waiting for me
I'm going to faced it willingly

I've got a right to be wrong
My mistakes will make me strong
I'm stepping out into the great unknown
I'm feeling wings though I've never flown
I've got a mind of my own
Flesh and blood to the bone
See, I'm not made of stone
I've got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone

I've got a right to be wrong
I've been held down to long
I've got to break free
So I can finally breath
I've got a right to be wrong
Got to sing my own song
I might be singing out of key
But it sure feels good to me
I've got a right to be wrong
So just leave me alone"

I love her youth, her beauty, her honesty and HER VOICE - she looks like a black woman  - with such strong and beautiful feeling that can transmit all the wisdom!

With love,P x