10 things we learned from the new Daft Punk album

We’ve just finished listening to Random Access Memories. Here are some observations...

1. The Seventies disco thing has been overstated

It’s more yacht rock to our ears. Fragments Of Time is a tune as smooth as a cleanly shaved Michael McDonald.

2. Get Lucky isn’t the catchiest track

You can stop hitting refresh on YouTube now. Lose Yourself To Dance, the other Pharrell/Nile Rodgers collaboration, is ready to take its place in your head.

3. The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas can rap

Yes, it sounds like a terrible idea. Yes, the first words he utters on Instant Crush are “I didn’t know I’d be the one to f*ck up.” But the vocals, delivered at a frantically fast pace, are right at home.

4. Daft Punk are as into Eighties sci-fi as we are

Blockbuster finale Contact is straight out of that disco in The Terminator. And if Kitt from Knight Rider doesn’t get a credit on The Game Of Love, he should sue their bionic arses.

5. Slow clapping is better than fast clapping

Seriously: the slow clapping on Lose Yourself To Dance is up there with that on Thriller.

6. Human drummers will be good for work for a while

When the coolest electronic band on the planet choose to use live drums instead of machines, you just know others in their field will be following suit.

7. Robots get horny, too

Along with violins and a beat slowed down to Barry White proportions, the lyrics to Beyond are more than a little bit saucy. Although how you “get busy” in one of those helmets remains a mystery.

8. Monologues are good to dance to

Giorgio By Moroder lasts for nine minutes, and is basically the Italian legend’s love letter to electronic music. That might not sound like a recipe for a full dancefloor, but it is.

9. Daft Punk can make anything hip

Even Broadway. Transforming a seemingly trippy piece of electronica into an orchestral piece complete with choirs, trumpets and music hall vocals, Touch is camp-tastically cool.

10. There’s a secret track that features Emeli Sandé singing on it

Just kidding, don’t worry.

Random Access Memories is out on 20 May