Are you seeking a fresh, or even funky new feel for your spring study sessions? Look no further than the newest album from Daft Punk, who have managed to release two “new” albums despite their split nearly three years ago. Coming hot on the heels of the 10th-anniversary reissue of Random Access Memories, the seminal 2013 album featuring artists and producers like Pharrell Williams and Julian Casablancas (of The Strokes fame), RAM (Drumless Edition) is the latest offering from the French Touch pioneers. 

What sets it apart from its two predecessors is the absence of any and all percussive elements, as the name suggests, lending an easy-going and ethereal feel to the whole album, making it perfect for calmer studying as finals season rolls around. 

However, previous enjoyers of Daft Punk’s work may find the reissue to feel empty or hollow. “Giorgio by Moroder” lacks the click that is quite literally the track’s primary focus and cued by Moroder’s monologue. The funky snare feature at the beginning of “Motherboard” feels desperately missed when queuing the regular and drumless versions back to back – not necessarily in a negative way, mind you, but in a big way nonetheless. To an initiated audience of Daft Punkers, the whole album gives the same feeling Kevin McCallister’s mom gets boarding a plane (we love you, Ms. O’Hara). 

However, if you can look past the confusion that might come with listening to a version of “Get Lucky” with even more exposed Pharrell Williams vocals, RAM is still RAM — read: a fantastic final entry for the one and only Duo d’Électronique . 

It’s also extremely easy to recommend the aforementioned 10th-anniversary edition; but how Infinity Repeating (another track featuring Julian Casablancas’ band The Voidz) didn’t make it on the original release is a mystery that will likely never be solved.