While
Daft Punk’s moody, electro-symphonic score to Tron: Legacy captured its ambition perfectly -- and, arguably, may have been the best thing about the movie -- it didn’t quite satisfy fans looking for dancefloor movers. Tron: Legacy Reconfigured rectifies that by letting the French duo’s peers loose on the film’s music. With a varied group of artists ranging from established names (
Moby,
the Crystal Method,
Paul Oakenfold) to up-and-comers (
Com Truise,
Pretty Lights), the collection offers eclectic tangents on the retro-futuristic musical world
Daft Punk created. While the acts involved don’t offer many surprises, they do what they do well, with
the Teddybears giving “Adagio for Tron” a playful pulse and
the Crystal Method injecting “The Grid” with adrenalized beats.
Oakenfold’s reworking of “C.L.U.” is just as easily identifiable as his work as it is
Daft Punk's in its massive atmospheres and rhythms; likewise,
Boys Noize and
Photek turn in versions of “End of Line” that are distinctive and cohesive at the same time. Even though the energy in remixes like
Japanese Popstars' percussive take on “Arena” and
AVICII's fizzy remix of “Derezzed” is welcome, some of Tron: Legacy Reconfigured's best moments aren’t danceable.
Moby brings a patient grace to “The Son of Flynn,” and
M83 and Big Black Delta's collaboration on “Fall” uncovers the track’s dreamy romance. Reconfigured may not be as striking as the original Tron: Legacy score, but it is an enjoyable, more accessible extension of it. ~ Heather Phares