Personal Playlist: Daft Punk gets ‘Congratulations’
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Getting the French electronica experts of Daft Punk to open up about what music they’re listening to these days is no mean feat. The duo — Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo — like to keep their cards close to their vests, as evidenced by the signature robot helmets that obscure their real identities and without which Daft Punk is never publicly seen.
Although the group launched its own genre with its mash-up of acid house, heavy metal, disco and funk, the Daft dudes are quick to tell you that they are not listening to Parisian-heavy house music these days, spurning the music created by their multi-hyphenate former manager Busy P and all output by his influential Ed Banger record label. “Jazz men don’t only listen to jazz,” Bangalter wryly noted in a rare interview with The Times’ Pop & Hiss blog.
Added De Homem-Christo: “We consciously tend to listen to stuff that is further than what we do. We listen to Bach.”
The band mates scored a global hit with their soundtrack for the movie “Tron: Legacy” in December. Pressed on what they’re listening to, though, De Homem-Christo and Bangalter reluctantly divulged what’s been in heavy rotation at the Daft Arts complex in Hollywood: the sophomore album from psychedelic rockers MGMT that sharply divided critics last year.
“I really like the MGMT album ‘Congratulations,’” said Bangalter. “That’s probably my favorite album this year.” “Yeah, “ De Homem-Christo said, nodding, “that’s really good!”
— Chris Lee
[Updated, 4:31 p.m.: The original version of this post incorrectly identified Daft Punk’s current management. Busy P no long manages the duo. We have changed the post accordingly.]
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