England-based DJ Ralph Lawson has unearthed and released a lost Daft Punk mix that had been buried in an archive since 1997. Lawson announced the hour-long, 30-year-old mix in a video on Oct. 21, according to posts he made about the discovery. He found the tape two years ago in a collection of tapes he had stored away.
The tape was moldy and ripped when he tried to play it after finding it in 2024, Lawson said. He sent it to Great Bear, an audio and video digitizing specialist in Bristol, England, for restoration. During a live release of the mix, Lawson said he thought it was "fresh" and "new," adding that it "must have been exclusive."
Lawson said Daft Punk sent him the tape three decades ago to play on a radio show he hosted while they were promoting their first album, 1997's Homework. When he first found the old tape, he was nervous it did not contain an unreleased mix and worried it was the well-known Essential Mix Daft Punk released on BBC radio in 1997. After listening and researching, Lawson said it definitely was not the Essential Mix and he could not find any information about the stowed-away mix.
According to Lawson, Daft Punk made the mix using vinyl, as distinct crackles can be heard. Before releasing it, he added a bit of volume to bring it up to modern levels but otherwise left it alone. Lawson said he did not add compression because Daft Punk were known for their expert use of side chain compression, which gave Homework its signature sound, and he did not want to alter it.
Separately, Daft Punk has a LEGO set coming out and a full-scale partnership with the building-blocks maker.
Sources: Consequence.