Return Voyager: A Daft Punk Discovered Review

Sometimes it's good to start at the beginning.
Two years ago, whilst browsing in an obscure music shop down a London side street, curiosity got the better of me. Being a massive fan of French dance legends Daft Punk, I found myself riffling through their limited back catalogue in the vain hope of spotting a random bootleg or album that I hadn't as yet acquired. My curiosity paid off. Suddenly I stumbled across Discovered: A Collection Of Daft Funk Samples; a hidden gem laden with the stench of Daft Punk, via a selection of original sampled tracks.
The collection consists of 12 tracks, all of which lay claim to elements of signature bass lines, rhythms and  phrases used across Daft Punk's work. This being the case, the tracks here contain traces of early disco, funk, soul, R&B and electronica; all of which forming the creative basis of the French duo. Traveling through the album, one can clearly spot highlights, such as the punchy rhythm of Human After All's 'Robot Rock' running through Breakwater's 'Release The Beast', the distinctive refrain of Discovery's  'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger', and the climbing melody of 'Crescendolls' in Little Anthony & The Imperials' 'Can You Imagine'. However, others remain more elusive, only recognisable upon closer inspection. For example, the twinkling 4x4 beat in 'More Spell On You' by Eddie Johns can be heard accompanying the almighty opening track to Discovery, 'One More Time', as is the case with the funk stained feel to 'Get It Up For Love' by Tata Vega, lending nods to Homework's flagship 1995 single 'Da Funk'. The collection also has a warming rewarding quality to it. I for one had never come across these genuine funk gems, and would be naive of their existence still if it wasn't for the attached Daft Punk endorsement. One of which, George Duke's 'I Love You More' is a beautiful soulful pop track that has only entered my life due it's infectious ear catching introductory refrain, conveniently sampled in Discovery's 'Digital Love'. The other striking charm to this collection is that the listener does not need to be accustomed to the work of Daft Punk in order to enjoy and appreciate the music. The 12 tracks glide along with a welcoming ease through a mix of funky house, disco and uptempo soul, leaving the listener with a smile on their face. Therefore, the album not only educates, but entertains acting as the perfect party, or pre- night out soundtrack for both lovers of Daft Punk, and lovers of music generally.
The real enchanting quality to Discovered: A Collection Of Daft Funk Samples is the way in which it has left me craving more. Just listening back to the bare roots of Daft Punk's creativity has given me the urge to revisit the band's work, and re-discover their take on these original tracks. So, I embark on my return voyage through their now classic albums, Homework, Discovery and Human After All, to quench my thirst for more. And who knows, I might even discover something new along the way.
Sometimes it's good to start at the beginning!