Friday, March 14, 2008

Electronica

JIM CARROLL

The latest release reviewed

DAFT PUNK
Alive 2007 Virgin ****

One of my favourite urban myths of recent years is that Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo recruited two pals to do all their live shows. The doppelgangers donned the robot helmets, pressed the buttons and watched the crowd go mental, while Daft Punk collected the cheque.

It's a good yarn, but not a patch on what you'll hear on this souvenir of the French combo's 2007 tour. Aside from the over-the-top, stage-set, glowing cock-rock pyramid and intense lighting display, everything that made people go wow about Daft Punk's last tour is present and correct. The material spans the duo's career, mixing and matching filtered-disco nuggets with celestial effect. The manner in which Around the World and Harder Better Faster Stronger get acquainted with one another is truly awesome. A live album to make you wish you were right in the middle of the action. www.daftpunk.com

Download tracks: Around the World/Harder Better Faster Stronger, Superheros/Human After All