MSTRKRFT

MSTRKRFT, pronounced "master kraft," emerged as the Daft Punk-loving side project of Death from Above 1979 bassist Jesse F. Keeler and producer Al-P. Based in Toronto, the pair shifted away from the raw edges of DFA 1979 toward sleek, machine-driven electronics built around vocoders and handclaps. Their first output arrived in July 2006 via Last Gang Records, comprising the singles "Easy Love" and "Work on You" plus a full-length album that Modular later reissued once the duo's visibility increased. Early remix work for rising acts such as Metric, Wolfmother, the Kills, and Bloc Party soon gave way to higher-profile assignments for Kylie Minogue, Usher, John Legend, Annie, and Jesse McCartney.

The follow-up LP, 2009's Fist of God, appeared on Dim Mak/Downtown and featured guest spots from Ghostface Killah and E-40; two tracks from the record became notable successes, namely the John Legend collaboration "Heartbreaker" and the N.O.R.E. cut "Bounce." A Death from Above 1979 reunion occupied Keeler for much of the interim, so MSTRKRFT stayed quiet until 2016, when they returned with the album Operator.