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DJ Mag Top100 DJs
44
Daft Punk
11

Can you remember the last time you saw Daft Punk's name advertised for a DJ set? We certainly can't. You can probably count their DJ sets this century on one hand. In the last 12 months alone, even their notable live performances tot up to a mega great whopping none. But somehow it makes sense. For the mystical influence of the two French dudes in robot suits is something that never seems to be held back.
Just last issue, Dutch house hero Afrojack was citing Daft Punk's definitive 1997 Essential Mix - one of the rare recorded relics of their enigmatic DJ sets - as fundamental in bringing together house's sleek 4/4 funk with hip-hop's streetwise attitude.

Without Daft Punk, you also wonder whether we would have had Justice, Ed Banger and all manner of other sleazy, rock-riddled electronic disco delights. You wonder if LCD Soundsystem would have sounded so riotously visceral if they never dreamed of Daft Punk playing at their house.
Without Daft Punk's theatrical, illuminated robot headgear, you wonder if Joel Zimmerman would still be a fragile framed Canadian Beatport sensation rather than the stadium slaying, mega mau5 stage phenomenon that he is today.
Drum & bass alchemist Sub Focus, grime godfather Wiley, Kanye West, Mancunian post-punk icons The Fall and even Janet Jackson are among the many acts that have sampled Daft Punk's robotic funk hooks.
And while they are more enigmatic, elusive and aloof than ever before, the gallant Gallic duo is still making their own major moves.

Their score of the remade 80s sci-fi film Tron (Tron Legacy) has been the most hyped movie soundtrack in their own living memory.
Their recent production for avant-garde hip-popper's N.E.R.D. - 'Hypnotize' - has been sending blogs crazy with its languorous cosmic throb. Sounding like Timbaland doped up on Tangerine Dream's aural hallucinogenics, it's probably the best work yet on the ever-multiplying axis of megastar dance/commercially viable hip-hop.
But then what do you expect? For if there were a poll for the most influential dance act of all time, we'd fully expect these two to be right at the top every time. We just can't understand why you keep voting for them on the basis of their notably absent turntable performances. At least we've got next year's arena tour to look forward to