It is difficult to comprehend why this album has been released by the French duo at a time when their 'Discovery' album has achieved so much critical acclaim. You would have thought that the last thing they would want to do is revert back to a past when only the most avid of Electro heads and Detroit Housters knew who, or what, Daft Punk were!

On starting up the CD though the familiar beats of Da Funk roll forth, and it all starts to make sense again. This album is not about the past, it is about a progression towards the future. One of the criticisms that may have been launched at 'Discovery' was that it was too polished and clean, where as 'Homework' rubbed you over with a French Cheese graiter until you were all lumpy! - that is where this release seems to bridge the gap between the two albums. It is not about where you are going, it's about how you get there, and ALIVE shows us how Daft Punk got to where they are now!- With me? - No? - Oh well.

The rough and ready nature of the works on ALIVE runs throughout, and the feeling of "I wish I had been there..." hits you pretty quickly. There is very little vocoder vocal activity going on, only the odd vocal sample and weird voice FX. All in all ALIVE is a demonstration of the simplicity of the Punksters' music back in the good old days when Electronic music was more experimental. In an era when House, Techno & Trance seems to churn out the same old same old it is good to know that an album like this has been put out to tie up all the ends. Long live Daft Punk! - Long live 1997.

4/5, Lee Fewkes