Daft Punk Documentary - BBC 4

I recently watched a BBC4 documentary which followed the career of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, better known as Daft Punk. The documentary had experts commentating on certain defining moments in there career and paying homage to the electro musicians. It looked at there very early beginnings as children playing with simple technology making sounds and remixing using very low tech equipment, and how they went on to create there own sound playing in french clubs and using only there made music rather than sampling other peoples, the two boys had a innovative fresh approach to producing music.

The documentary looked at the inspirations of the band and that they were brought up on the guilty pleasure songs of the 70's, bands like Earth,Wind and Fire and CHIC, there style can be seen in alot of the work they produce. All of there hard work goes into the music and there heart, all the money they make gets reinvested back into the art and music they produce, as they live humble lives. They have managed to remain humble by performing there music masked, being known well now for there iconic robot personas, this helps them to perform live and keep a humble life with there families.

Leiji Matsumoto

Leiji Matsumoto, a world famous animator and illustrator, known for his work in anime and manga cinema, is another huge inspiration to the french musicians daft punk and were able to work with him for a series of music videos on there second album Discovery. Matsumoto created a full story line and world to create a small mini series to go alongside the songs on the album, it followed a group of alien musicians and there journey after being kidnapped and turned human by an evil greedy corporation, the documentary showed how they worked closely with Matsumoto but also how he was very much in charge in the direction that the small movies went in. The results of this collaboration were really impressive and are hailed as some of the best album covers ever produced.


Collaboration -

Daft Punk are one of the most admired music outfits in the world, especially after there famed come back performance at coacella in 2006 after many critics said they were outdated. The pair produced arguably the best performance which has ever happened at the American festival. This performance lead to Daft Punk collaborating with artists such as Nile rogers, Kanye West, Julian Casablancas, and many more great musicians. One artist praised the bands dedication and passion to music and hailed there whole direction, the mystery and devotion to what they do, Quoting Oscar Wilde "Give the man a mask and he'll tell you the truth" saying that through there masked personas they let the music show there beauty and are honest with what they do.

Daft Punk remain a big inspiration to myself and my work, I respect there look and direction of music, there passion and love for what they do.