More about: Daft Punk
Leaked 2012 image named 3.13.13 (it didn't happen, FYI)
Amid the frantic speculation that surrounds the closely guarded secrets of Daft Punk's fourth studio album, 13 March 2013 is the date initially hinted at last year for the premiere of new Daft Punk material.
The suspiciously authentic looking image was simply the Daft Punk logo above the words 'No End', believed to be the new record's title, and the date 3.13.13 - which is tomorrow.
So is Daft Punk's new record really going to be released tomorrow?
Well, there's certainly been a build of hype over the last two weeks or so.
OK, so those four 'Daft Punk' tracks weren't Daft Punk, they were done by a YouTube user called ArtInstitute2011. But the 15-second teaser clip played during an episode of SNL definitely was them.
The YouTube scammer's shenanigans made everyone super suspicious when 'Future Is Now' was leaked. Chances are the track's another fake, not cohesive with the disco vibe we know Nile Rogers has brought to the new record.
But the label seemed to rush to remove video of the track, suggesting some element of authenticity. Perhaps not a genuine album track, but a genuine 'leak' intended to excite the fans.
The fact is, if Daft Punk were going to release an album tomorrow, they certainly won't be giving us any forewarning.
Rumour upon rumour have consistently put the album's release date in Spring 2013, which we're in now, just about.
Even omitting the Art Institute fakes, the promotional material casually slipped onto the internet and teaser material on TV has been on the increase in recent months, suggesting we're definitely getting closer to the zero hour.
But, that said, all those things equally prove that the French duo are masters of winding their fans up; teasing and baiting them until they're near-hysteric with excitement and speculation before they unveil the actual finished article.
This was the image posted by website InTheMix last September
With that in mind, sticking to a release date that was posted online way back in September doesn't seem like Daft Punk's style, and they've even changed record label since then.
There won't be too much of a time gap between TV teasers, online leaks and artwork releases and the real thing, there's no point at hinting at something and then letting everyone forget. But the chances of that very early, leaked, date proving to be true seem fairly slim.
We hope that we wake up to news of a new Daft Punk album, but we're ready to be disappointed and to wait a little longer.
Below: No End: Everything we know about the new Daft Punk album
The album title: The fourth Daft Punk album looks likely to be called No End - or at least, a leaked image seen in early September 2012 seems to suggest so. Australian dance website InTheMix published the suspiciously official looking image along with a possible release date - 3 March, 2013.
Glastonbury 2013?: Of course, if Daft Punk do release a new album in March next year they will need to promote it - and where better than at Glastonbury 2013, which is sure to be the biggest festival of the year. Leaked dates also include Roslkilde Festival in Denmark, Peace and Love in Sweden and Oya Festival in Norway. These would be Daft Punk's first live dates since their 2007 Alive tour.
Back to their disco roots: Daft Punk hit their commercial peak with their 2001 album Discovery, and are set to return to a disco sound, having teamed up with Chic main-man Nile Rogers to work on the new album. Rumours began circulating of a potential collaboration in February of 2012 - and were later confirmed by Rogers himself.
It will be less rushed than Human After All: Even to the most dedicated Daft Punk fan, third album Human After All was a bit of a disappointment. It was reportedly recorded in six weeks, and the noisy, repetitive sounds on the album was testament to that. However, with Nile Rogers and Daft Punk beginning jamming sessions for the album in February - that means Daft Punk have already spent over six times as long working on No End as they did Human After All...
Nile Rogers isn't the only disco legend to have worked on the album: As well as Nile Rogers, disco legend Giorgio Moroder has also worked on the new album, having recorded a spoken-word monologue about his life in Spring 2012. His contribution was recorded using microphones from the 1960s to present day - each to represent a decade in the life of the 72-year-old producer and songwriter
No End is 'as good as Madonna's best pop work': After working with Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo on their album, Nile Rogers had high praise for the next album, comparing it to his finest work. He told Mixmag in August: "It's as great as being in a studio with Bowie, it's as great as being with Bernard Edwards, and it's as great as the best stuff I've ever done with Duran Duran and Madonna.”
A more cinematic album?: Never ones to do things on a small scale, Daft Punk's last album release was the epic Tron:Legacy soundtrack - and a sense of the cinematic has rubbed off the French duo, having worked with Paul Williams - the mad behind Hollywood soundtracks such as Bugsy Malone, Smokey & The Bandit and perhaps most importantly - The Muppet Christmas Carol. Epic, cinematic disco house? Count us in.
Rumoured tracks include 'Renoma Street': We all got very excited in the summer when it was revealed a new Daft Punk track 'Renoma Street' was due for release in July 2012. Then it didn't happen so we all went and listened to Homework for the millionth time. The track was named by French dance magazine Tsugi, who hopefully took their listing from some whisper of truth.
No End is likely to be styled as ever: Daft Punk made a fashionable mark on the music world during their Discovery era, adopting robot helmets and, of course, slick black leather outfits - designered by Saint Laurent legend, Hedi Slimane. Daft Punk put together a playlist for the Saint Laurent show at this year's Paris Fashion Week, showing their relationship is still strong - or perhaps repaying whatever designs her has provided for their upcoming return to the music world...
More about: Daft Punk
Photo: Press
