Daft Punk's New Single "Get Lucky" is finally here; What do you think?

After many sleepless nights for Daft Punk fans, "Get Lucky" featuring Pharrell Williams is finally here (you can grab it on iTunes here, or any number of websites).  This track actually leaked earlier this week with unmastered vocals, and many of us were left guessing if it could be the real thing, or if it was just a Pharrell impersonator, considering a leak with only unmastered vocals is so unusual.

I initially wasn't too keen on the track, as it's such a far departure from previous work.  The radio edit is only 4:07, and it just seems short to listen to.  Furthermore, we're all accustomed to DP using repeats to drive a point home, especially in the case of Human After All-- the title track of which is 5:20 of repeats with slow variation.  Putting a pop vocalist on a DP track takes away from the familiar, almost comforting house style.  The other problem is the two clips that were released first, which are the two main parts of this song, are the ONLY parts of this song.  You've heard parts A and B since the beginning, and the only thing left that's new is Pharrell.  The album version is supposed to be about 6 minutes long, meaning we're missing a full two minutes of what I can only assume to be instrumental music-- hopefully Nile Rodgers will take a bigger spotlight in this time.

On the positive side of this release, it notes a major departure from the past-- it's always good to see a band take on a new direction, and this is a welcome one.  "Get Lucky" sounds like a legitimate disco song.  Purely from a technical standpoint, the recording is a masterpiece.  It has the warmth of a vintage record, yet the crisp and clear sound of a modern record.  The performances are tight.  And the vocals are catchy!

I know there's a large group of people perhaps disappointed in this track, but you have to keep in mind, it is a radio edit, and it is a "featuring Pharrell" track, meaning he's bringing something new to the table, and he's the star.  And you've also heard these parts probably 100 times listening to the previews, so there's also that part of the expectation to.

So in short-- I like this track a lot.  The recording is some of the best I've heard in a long time, this is a new direction for dance music, and that's all worth applauding.  If you hate this track, remember this is a 74 minute record, and we've only heard 4 minutes of what is probably the most mainstream moment of the record.

Don't forget to grab the new record on Amazon, who still have the best price for the vinyl version.

Future Music's In the Studio with Chromeo [Video]

It's no secret that Chromeo has a knack for synthesis, and this Future Music In the Studio demonstrates just how synth crazy they are-- and hits home with what this blog is all about.  The above video shows their studio (I believe in Canada) with their fantastic array of analog and digital synths and drum machines.  Currently, the band is writing its next record in New York City with a reduced synthesizer setup, judging from their Vine account, so this video is slightly outdated, but they still have some of the same gear and work the same way.  The video below shows them working on a song from scratch, so there's a wealth of great information here.  This video was in Future Music magazine a couple years back, but has only become available on YouTube this week.  Be on the lookout for their new record in the fall.

New Korg MS-20 Interviews with the engineers of the Original and Reissue

Curious to see the behind the scenes of new Korg MS-20 mini?  Here are two interviews with two of the original engineers, Mr. Fumio Mieda and Mr. Hiroaki Nishijima.  They go into detail about the making of both synths, the choice of components, and some of the characteristics and quirks.  Great video for electronic specialists and MS-20 fans.

Dave Smith demos all the features of the Prophet 12 [Video]

I'm a huge fan of everything Dave Smith does, and the Prophet 12 is no exception.  I'm normally a pretty die hard analog fan, but the P12 shows the strength of 4 digital oscillators, plus sub oscillator.  This thing sounds absolutely huge, and the quick modulation routing is fantastic.  Dave has really outdone himself.  Check out this demonstration of all the cool features, and tell me you don't want this thing.

High Definition Daft Punk "Get Lucky" ad featuring Pharrell Williams, plus other Daft Punk news! [UPDATED]

High definition "Get Lucky" ad from this weekend's SNL ad.  Full collaborators for Random Access Memories includes The Strokes' Julian Casablancas, Animal Collective's Panda Bear, Paul Williams, Giorgio Moroder, DJ Falcon, Chilly Gonzales, Todd Edwards, Pharrell Williams, and Nile Rodgers.

Korg Volca Beats, Bass, and Keys are Official [Videos]

Korg currently has its finger on the pulse of analog enthusiasts everywhere, and the new Volca series is no exception.  With a rumored price of $150, these should be a no brainer for the public-- an analog drum machine, 3 voice VCO polysynth, and a 3 oscillator 303-style bass sequencer are all easy buys for musicians.  I'm tempted to grab all three, considering the price.  For a full spec sheet, visit the official Korg site.

New Korg Analog Boxes: Real or fake? We decide!

The first picture of the supposed new Korg Analog boxes emerged a few days back, but I wasn't quick to believe what looks like an artist's render of new possible gear.  It wasn't until the new images, seen below (click for full size!), really caught my attention, and I thought this could be a possibility.