Random Access Memories [Drumless Edition]

by Daft Punk

Overview

Daft Punk celebrated the tenth anniversary of Random Access Memories' release with not one but two special editions of their nostalgic 2013 masterpiece. The first was a typical deluxe edition that added demos and outtakes; the second, Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition), honored the album by removing one of its most definitive elements -- the beat. Given that the duo's legacy is so grounded in Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter's way with propulsive rhythms, it seems like a counterintuitive choice, but like all of Daft Punk's moves, it's thoughtfully considered, and Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) provides deeper insight into their music than might be expected. On a purely musical level, stripping away the beats makes it easier to savor the beauty of the album's tones, whether it's the sparkling keyboards and shimmying rhythm guitars on "Give Life Back to Music" -- a song whose title feels especially apt in this context -- or the majesty of the strings, brass, and pedal steel on "Beyond." Likewise, the depth of the vocal arrangements comes into focus with high-def clarity. This version of "Instant Crush" reveals the fine mesh of Julian Casablancas' processed and unprocessed vocals, while Panda Bear's harmonies stretch higher toward the heavens on "Doing It Right," one of several songs that sound more natural here than on the album's original incarnation. Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) also underscores how the duo's expert arrangements convey rhythm without a hint of percussion. Minus its slithering disco beat, "Lose Yourself to Dance" is still slinky enough to work up a sweat, but the arching layers of vocodered counterpoint that push it forward make it feel more like a piece for robot ballet than a dancefloor mover. Though the original Random Access Memories was a glorious tug of war between proudly indulgent moments and savvy pop, the drumless edition heightens its power as a sci-fi concept album about retaining, or regaining, humanity. This is most apparent on "Touch," which lays bare the rainbow of emotions within the music and Paul Williams' masterful vocals, and "Within," which attains a ghostly poignancy as it floats away in solitary fantasy. Along with "Motherboard," it's one of the deeper cuts that comes to the forefront on Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition). However, it might be even more impressive that the album manages to give life back to "Get Lucky" -- a single that still received considerable airplay around the time the anniversary reissues appeared -- by emphasizing the warmth in its grooving keyboards and Pharrell's harmonies. That the deluxe reissue of Random Access Memories returned it to the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 albums chart suggests that fans can't get enough of this album. Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) hints at why that is: it's a work with enough layers that peeling away a few lets the remaining ones shine all the brighter. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	11/17/2023
Label:	Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music
UPC:	0196588083426
Rank:	20565

Tracks

1. Give Life Back to Music
2. The Game of Love
3. Giorgio by Moroder
4. Within
5. Instant Crush
6. Lose Yourself to Dance
7. Touch
8. Get Lucky
9. Beyond
10. Motherboard
11. Fragments of Time
12. Doin' It Right
13. Contact

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Daft Punk   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Julian Casablancas   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Co-Producer,Featured Artist
Paul Williams   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
The Voidz   Primary Artist
Nile Rodgers   Primary Artist,Guitar,Featured Artist
Todd Edwards   Primary Artist,Vocals,Co-Producer,Featured Artist
The Sherbs   Primary Artist
Pharrell Williams   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Panda Bear   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Thomas Bloch   Cristal Bachet,Ondes Martenot
Gene Cipriano   Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Warren Luening   Trumpet
Neel Hammond   Violin
Lisa M. Sutton   Violin
Alma Fernandez   Viola
Rafael Rishik   Violin
Marty Krystall   Clarinet
Nathan East   Bass
Rodney Wirtz   Viola
Miwako Watanabe   Violin
Harry Shirinian   Viola
Paula Hochhalter   Cello
Giorgio Moroder   Vocals,Voices
Gary Grant   Trumpet
Margaret Wooten   Violin
Justin Hageman   French Horn
Christina Soule   Cello
Danielle Ondarza   French Horn
Johana Krejci   Violin
Irina Voloshina   Violin
Cynthia Moussas   Violin
Chris Caswell   Keyboards
Charles Loper   Trombone
Greg Huckins   Flute
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar
Roland Kato   Viola
Stephanie O'Keefe   French Horn
Bob McChesney   Trombone
Earl Dumler   Oboe
Greg Liesz   Guitar (Steel)
Chuck Findley   Trumpet
Chuck Berghofer   Bass
James Genus   Bass
Greg Leisz   Pedal Steel,Lap Steel Guitar
Paula Hochalter   Cello
Angie Jaree   Conductor
DJ Falcon   Co-Producer,Synthesizer
Quinn   Drums,Percussion
Ray Tischer   Viola
Douglas Walter   Conductor
Olivia Tsui   Violin
Andrew Picken   Viola
Jessica Rotter   Choir/Chorus
Jody Rubin   Viola
Rita Weber   Violin
James Atkinson   French Horn
Kathleen Sloan   Violin
Assa Dori   Violin
Jeffrey Gunn   Choir/Chorus
Lisa Dondlinger   Violin
Omar Hakim   Drums,Percussion
Timothy Loo   Cello
Brian Kilgore   Percussion
Carrie Kennedy   Violin
Alexandra Gunn   Choir/Chorus
Alissa M. Crenshaw   Choir/Chorus
Alycia Grant   Choir/Chorus
Chelsea T. Diblasi   Choir/Chorus
Elaina S. Crenshaw   Choir/Chorus
Emma S. Gunn   Choir/Chorus
Nathan Campebll   French Horn
Shirley Koesnadi   Choir/Chorus
Vanessa F. Smith   Cello
Sam Fischer   Violin
Andrew Martin   Trombone
Craig Gosnell   Trombone (Bass)
Larry McGuire   Trumpet
Joel Pargman   Violin
Mark Converse   Percussion
Judith Farmer   Bassoon
Drew Dembowski   Bass
Songa Lee   Violin
Charlie Morillas   Trombone
Audrey Solomon   Violin
Carolyn Riley   Viola
Joshua Britt   Choir/Chorus
Mariah Britt   Choir/Chorus
Donald Ferrone   Bass
Nina Evtuhov   Violin
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Steve Kajala   Flute
Calabria McChesney   Violin
Sara Perkins   Violin
Armen Ksajikian   Cello
Sara Andon   Flute
Chilly Gonzales   Piano,Soloist,Keyboards
Kevin Connolly   Violin
Victor Pineschi   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Garth Porter   Composer
Chab   Mastering Engineer
Pharrell Williams   Composer,Lyricist
Nathan East   Musician
Julian Casablancas   Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Producer
Paul Hahn   Concept,Management,Art Direction
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo   Concept,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Producer,Art Direction
Derek Karlquist   Assistant Engineer
Giorgio Moroder   Composer
Doug Tyo   Assistant Engineer
Seth Waldmann   Producer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Paul Williams   Composer,Composer,Lyricist
Chris Caswell   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Orchestration
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Composer,Lyricist,Musician
Bob Ludwig   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Kevin Mills   Assistant Engineer
James Genus   Musician
Daniel Lerner   Engineer
Greg Leisz   Musician
Thomas Bloch   Musician
DJ Falcon   Producer
Noah Lennox   Composer,Lyricist
Jean-Pierre Janiaud   Producer,Consultant,Audio Consultant
Charlie Pakkari   Assistant Engineer
Cedric Hervet   Concept,Cover Art,Art Direction,Creative Director
Peter Franco   Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Tony Mitchell   Composer
Miguel Lara   Assistant Engineer
Jackie O'Brien   Production Coordination
Nicolas Essig   Assistant Engineer
Warren Fu   Concept,Cover Art,Art Direction,Illustrations
Nile Rodgers   Composer,Lyricist,Musician
Alana Da Fonseca   Engineer
Omar Hakim   Musician
Mick Guzauski   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Daryl Braithwaite   Composer
Todd Edwards   Producer
Eric Weaver   Assistant Engineer
David Channing   Music Editor
Kyle Stevens   Assistant Engineer
Florian Lagatta   Engineer
Stephane Queme   Composer
Cory Brice   Assistant Engineer
Guillaume Le Braz   Engineer
Gus Koven   Sound Design
Joseph Solido   Contractor
Todd Imperatrice   Composer,Lyricist
Thomas Bangalter   Concept,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Producer,Art Direction
Eric Eylands   Assistant Engineer
Jason Beck   Composer,Lyricist
John "J.R." Robinson   Musician
Mike Larson   Assistant Engineer
Phil Joly   Engineer
Bill Rahko   Assistant Engineer
Chilly Gonzales   Musician
Sam Cooper   Production Coordination