Any excuse to post something about our favourite French robots: it turns out that Daft Punk’s seminal 1997 essential mix turns 18 years old today.

To celebrate the good folks over at the Essential Mix have dug out a mini-mix which was recorded to celebrate the Essential Mix’s 500th mix some 13 years later.

The original mix was recorded one month after their debut album ‘Homework’, and highlights Thomas & Guy-Man’s early influences. Chicago, represented by producers like Paul Johnson and Cajmere, meets Paris in the shape of French house pioneers like Cassius and Pepe Bradock. And of course the mix includes a handful of Daft Punk and Roule classics, and was recorded in Pedro Winter aka Busy P’s flat.

And if you’ve got a spare couple of hours (of course you have) – you should really listen the whole thing as it’s a musical education from two of the very best in the game.

01. Daft Punk – WDPK Essential Intro
02. Paul Johnson – Summer Heat
03. Armand Van Helden – Funk Phenomena (Dope Mix)
04. CZR – Chicago Southside
05. Unknown – Git Down Saturday
06. Remix Delux #1 – Dee’s Knots
07. Parris Mitchell – Ghetto Shout Out
08. Daft Punk – Teachers
09. Martin Luther King – I Have A Dream
10. The Godson EP – Drum Patterns & Memories
11. Jammin Gerald – Get The Ho ’94
12. DJ Attack – Da Way U Work
13. Thomas Bangalter – Spinal Beats
14. Thomas Bangalter – Spinal Scratch
15. Tha West Siders – Waxscratch Trax
16. Fantom – Faithfull (Prassay Mix)
17. Fantom – Faithfull (Original Mix)
18. Fantom – Faithfull (Da Cracy Mix)
19. I:Cube – Disco Cubizm (Daft Punk Mix)
20. Daft Punk – Rock ‘n’ Roll
21. DJ Hyperactive – Chicago
22. Daft Punk – Oh Yeah
23. Cajmere – Only 4 U
24. Trankilou – Champagne
25. Unknown – And Da Beat Goes On
26. DJ Funk & Gerald – Hold Up
27. Ween – Freedom Of ’76
28. Zdar + Boombass – Foxy Lady
29. Gusto – Disco’s Revenge
30. DJ Deeon – Deeon Doez Disco
31. Sweet – Somebody’s Watching
32. Da Mongoloids – Spark Da Meth
33. Roller Rink 2000 – Shining
34. Roy Davis Jr. – Gabrielle
35. Robert J. Hairston – Preacher Man
36. Daft Punk – Around The World (Motorbass Mix)
37. Kenny Dixon Jr. – U Can Dance If You Want 2