Two of my favorite artists of all time are Daft Punk and (to a somewhat lesser extent, due to their having not been around for quite as long) Crookers. Both artists have managed to put out works that far exceed the standard, to the point that they’ve created miniature revolutions within their respective niches, and both have done it on more than just a few occasions. After listening to their latest, however, I’ve found myself stumped (not to mention nearly brought to tears) as I wonder whether either will make a recovery from the extremely questionable tunes they’ve released.

Crookers

Crookers have always kept their style plain and simple. Their clean beats are well cut, and feature an exceedingly minimalist nature, but despite this, they’ve always managed to keep their tracks progressive enough that upon reaching the end, one feels as though he or she has been taken through the song, and not simply exposed to a couple of bland beats for three minutes. Their remix of Isa Gt’s “Pela O”, however, turns their reputation upside down. Literally none of what’s mentioned above is present in this track. In fact, with random loops that simply repeat and alternate back and forth providing the sole bit of substance for the track, it’s hard to find anything interesting at all.

Isa Gt – Pela O (Crookers Remix)

Daft Punk

As much as I hate to say it, I think the Daft Punk track I’m about to include is even more of a failure. I’m actually banking on the off chance that perhaps some lonely bedroom producer discovered how to recreate the Rollin’ and Scratchin’ synth line, and then proceeded to use the Daft Punk name to promote his mix, because I find it incredibly difficult to accept the fact the both Guy Manuel de Homem Christo and Thomas Bangalter would find this take on Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out suitable to release.

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out (Daft Punk Remix)

Please children… work your magic. Make me feel better.

Edit: I can’t explain to you how relieved I am to have discovered that this “Daft Punk remix” is, in fact, a counterfeit. As such, in an attempt to halt the spread of an undeserving bedroom producer’s pilfered track, I’ve removed the download link. The stream, however, will remain up for some time, in order to make an example of this unfortunate experience.

Regardless, I feel I owe you, the good people of the disco scene, not one, but two teaspoons of cherry flavored beats, both to make up for the sparsity of my recent activity, and to express my heartfelt sorrow.

Love Motel

A short little note in my inbox recently clued me in to a project that I’ve been unfortunate enough to have missed out on for much too long: Love Motel. Not only is the Swiss glam-rock / electronic band an intriguing new sound in itself, but they’ve recently finished a particularly large remix endeavor, to which many a distinctive producer (you’ve likely become familiar with the likes of Cryptonites and Be Trash, both of which were previously featured in the BuffetLibre Rewind project) has contributed. I particularly enjoyed the krafty little Kaz rework, a track that (after you’ve indulged of course) will have traveled all the way from Kyotango, Japan to reach you. Seems as though Japan has taken a quick liking to this trend toward the bouncier we seem to be seeing.

Love Motel – Dial God USA (Kaz dub)

The Cryptonites remix is more than a bit intriguing as well. Although it does employ a good deal of their usual heavy, grungy style, it manages to preserve the indie-ish feel, as well as the gratifying chord progressions of the original track, quite well.

Love Motel – Je Pleure (Cryptonites remix)

Keenhouse

(Thanks to Neonized for the image.)

Here’s a change of pace: I’m fully convinced that Los Angeles’s Keenhouse, who also happens to have been featured among the BuffetLibre remix artists, has either spontaneously become great friends with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo, or simply robbed them of their book of secrets, because his beats all seem to wreak of the Daft Punk chord progressions and overall style, and oh is it good. Nearly every track manages to capture the euphoric, positive energy for which we so dearly respect the masked duo, and as such, I simply can’t help but smile and bounce around a bit when these tunes present themselves.

Caution: Listening to these tunes on headphones may, in fact, cause you to look like an idiot, for you’ll likely find yourself getting your groove on at highly inappropriate times to music that no one else can hear. You’ve been warned.

Keenhouse – Deep in the Forest

Division Kent – L’heure Bleue (Keenhouse remix)