Random Access Memories - Daft Punk

I thought my first exposure to Daft Punk was in the form of "Get Lucky" only 2 weeks ago. Turns out, the song that brings back floods of childhood memories, "One More Time", is actually one of their creations. But this was a product of my research AFTER I had listened to Random Access Memories. I decided I wanted to listen to Random Access Memories before I properly researched anything else Daft Punk had brought to the table. I wanted to see if their new offerings' effect on me, as a Daft-Punk-Virgin (well..I thought), would mirror the effects their old music did back when it first fell on the ears of the 90's era - such an effect that their comeback was so anticipated that R.A.M became the fastest album of 2013. In a nutshell - I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

The 2 tracks that stole my soft spot were; Lose Yourself To Dance and Doin' It Right. Maybe it's Pharrell's vocals that helped me take a liking to the track because lets face it Pharrell is Pharrell and I really wouldn't mind taking up on his offer of his shirt and wiping off all that "sweat sweat SWEAT" as I Lose Myself To Dance and allow the grooviest (yes I said grooviest) track on the album to entrance me. Doin' it Right intrigues me because it's slightly distant as a track on it's own, as well as standing out from the rest of the album with it's stuttery, spaced beats it feels a bit less warmer than the rest of the album. As the penultimate track, for me it's a sort of a signal of the ending of the journey and a step back from the experience before you move into the final track, Contact, and cool down.


The best thing about the album though, was me getting something I never expected. Looking at the genre of the album described as "Electronic", my mind flicked to images of artists with the likes Labrinth and Disclosure. It therefore became a contrast to have the expectations of synthetic, futuristic, computerised beats and actually end up being hit with the undistorted and pure forms of the flutes, violins, horns among all the other instruments that hold up the the groovy (yes I said groovy again) beats seasoned with the sounds of the synths and vocoded voices. I was tricked by their robot helmets and computer Jargon related titling into thinking I was going to be hearing something quite the opposite to what in fact, ended up reminding me of something I'd hear on Top Of The Pops 2.

I like Top Of The Pops 2. I also like Random Access Memories.


Freshly Old School.

A Step Back Into The Future.

Funkaaaayyyy.

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Dot Rotten - Voices In My Head

As Dot's first studio album, it's a decent body of work.
I was actually surprised with a couple of the tracks on the album. Obviously as his first album since commercial success, it was bound to be more varying sound to reach out to more people, but considering the tracks Dot has released as singles, I still wasn't really expecting Dot to deliver some of the tracks he did.

The first part of the album that greets your ears comes in the form of "Hello". It begins, gaining momentum with Dot "bringing you poetry", making your introduction to the album...well pure. As the track gets into it, it's a bit downing a glass big glass of cold water on a hot day... I normally associate Dot with a dark sound, so this lighter and dainty track is something new and refreshing and I really like it. This mirrors my reaction to the other lighter track on the album; "Thank You" - it's a buoyant track dedicated to his fans out there that have supported him - especially those that have stuck by him while he's switching up his sound and climbs up and down the chart. I like the little statement he makes by thanking the fans that have stuck by him since the underground, on a track that is so not underground. It's a blatant fist bump to the supporters, and a subtle two fingers up to the haters that say he's "sold out". I think these people forget that a slight adaptation in sound doesn't undermine the skill that he obviously still habours.

Running through most of the rest of the album are the heavy, anthemic beats that Dot's been associating himself with for a while now. Underneath these beats though, I get the sense of both growth and frustration from Mr Rotten in some of these tracks. It's almost like recently he has learnt a lot and he's come to some sort of realisation. There is a hunger back there which make me feel like he feels to achieve something more with this album itself. Maybe it is infact, the Voices In His Head, that are holding him back? I don't know - this could me just going off on one and getting some random vibe off it but never the less, on the topic of achieving something with this album - I think Dot can be proud of this one.

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Lay Her Down - Skepta ft. Kano

So Skepta decided to hook up with KKK-AAAA and make an extended version to the vibe that is 'Lay Her Down', from Blacklisted, which he is now putting on his new upcoming album (yay), Konnichiwa.

I've seen a few of the oh-so-typical "this ain't a grime track reh reh reh" comments ...well no one said it was so shhhhhhhhh and let the 80's flavours soak into your veins and feel the music. The vibe it creates and the whole relaxed aura of the song means it doesn't need all the technicalities of a crazy 'agdfayfagfigci' flow and mad metaphorical wordplay. It's not what the song was made for or aimed to achieve - it's just a song which gives you that good feeling. Simple. The 80s influence with a fresh twist have formulated a calm summer jaaaaaaay-yummmm and whether you're cutting the grass or cutting a slice of mango you know you have to stop and cut some shapes to this one. 

I like this. Yeah. I like it a lot. 

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