Daft Punk, one of the most popular acts in dance music history, have broken up.
The French duo made up of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo formed in Paris in 1993, and went on to define the sound of French electronic music. Their first album was 1997’s Homework, one of the greatest dance albums ever made, which cemented the group as a critical and commercial darling. Their 2001 follow-up, Discovery, moved the group more into the realm of pop music, with songs the influence of which is still felt, reverberating across multiple genres.
Their sense of style and visual sense was almost as popular as the music itself, as their trademark robot helmets and black suits cemented them as icons of fashion and design.
After Human After All in 2005, their most not-good album, the group released their landmark score to Tron Legacy, the sequel to the cult Disney film Tron, proved to be far more culturally important than the film itself.
Next, Daft Punk released an album that both paid tribute to their own past while also diving into music’s past, using analogue instruments and synthesizers and collaborating with music legends such as Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Giorgio Moroder, as well as contemporary musicians such as Pharrell Williams, The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and one half of Animal Collective Panda Bear.
The announcement was made through an eight-minute video entitled “Epilogue”. The breakup was confirmed by their publicist to Pitchfork.
Here’s their 10 best songs:
10. “Harder Better Faster Stronger” – Discovery (2001)
9. “Robot Rock” – Human After All (2005)
8. “Something About Us” – Discovery (2001)
7. “Giorgio by Moroder” – Random Access Memories (2013)
6. “Derezzed” – Tron Legacy (2010)
5. “One More Time” – Discovery (2001)
4. “Da Funk” – Homework (1997)
3. “Instant Crush” – Random Access Memories (2013)
2. “Around The World” – Homework (1997)
1. “Digital Love” – Discovery (2001)
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