The excitement that built around the news that Daft Punk would score Tron Legacy
The excitement that built around the news that Daft Punk would score Tron Legacy was well placed. The band that turned quirky French house into a musical staple crafted their aesthetic on the kitsch 80s sci-fi cultural avenue that produced the original cult Disney film Tron and gave us the word ‘frack’. The synergy of the robotic French duo scoring the blockbuster sequel was a canny bit of casting that made this a much-hyped release, and didn’t hurt the credibility of the movie.
Sadly, it wasn’t enough to save it. Legacy was disappointing, and the soundtrack flounders in its wake. The keystones that have made the endlessly experimental Daft Punk instantly recognizable – sampling and brilliant beats – are thin on the ground here. Instead the listener gets many small songs, often under two minutes, centred on brooding synths and strings that set the mood and dissipate, resulting in a disjointed and languid record.
It’s hard to judge a score without the accompanying visuals. It’s rare that a soundtrack rises above its source movie to become a pop hit, like the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Quentin Tarantino, who is arguably a better DJ than a director these days, chooses soundtracks that elevate the cultural punch of his films. Sadly this has not happened here; some suits said ‘lets get Daft Punk’, and the result is underwhelming, a competent score without risks and without the magic of Daft Punk. Tron Legacy is forgettable and will likely be remembered as Daft Punk’s worst film clip.
Best track: Derezzed, Solar Sailer .
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: The Dark Knight soundtrack, the Inception soundtrack, Ketamine.
In A Word: Frack
