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LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (Album Review)
Wednesday, 19 May 2010 Written by Adam Simpson
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (Album Review)

More of the same and its great.

Think dance, punk, funk, indie, electronic. Think New Order, Prodigy, Gary Numan, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Daft Punk. Think soft, hard, digital, analogue, high tempo and steady. Think 80’s, 90’s and then just stop thinking and listen.

James Murphy’s experimental project, LCD Soundsystem have possibly saved the best ‘til last. There newly released album “This Is Happening”, is rumoured to be their last, which is sad. It is very refreshing to think that this group is a side project, not a full on attack on the charts, music channels, billboard posters or anything else for that matter to try and get rich, the group do this for the love of it.

It is a wonderfully upbeat album, cleverly put together with all manner of instruments, beats, rhythms, samples and synths, lovely, lovely analogue synths, which have a wonderful 80’s retro feel and are just not used enough now.

The album is difficult to categorise, it is no more one genre than it is another, instead it is an enthusiastic blend of dance, electro and indie rock that they call Punk Funk, which has certainly done a lot for dance music.

So James Murphy’s New York group look set to retire after making this wonderful album, quitting while they are ahead, going out in a blaze of glory, well I cannot fault that, I admire it and I admire this album. Musically it is brilliant; you will dance listening to this. James Martin’s softly sung vocals and easy to follow lyrics are good too, they do not take over the music; merely accompany it, which is how it should be.

ImageThe album begins with Dance Yrself Clean. 9 Minutes of toe tapping and head bopping, from the first few subtle minutes, where the track gently sways with basic drums before exploding into a bass filled house number, with Murphy’s vocals following suit. 80’s style heavy synths, wonderful drumming, phone a taxi and get to a club.

Drunk Girls is loud shouty and punky, fusing a dance rhythm and heavy music effects from electric guitar and bass, it’s very late Bowie, very Numan, very good, very, very good.

One Touch is tense and futuristic, very well put together with layers of rhythm and synth. More 80’s electro with modern tweaks.

All I Want is much more instrumental, American Indie and mellow vocals, with some synthed keyboards thrown in towards the end to let you know who you’re listening to.

I Can Change is a brilliant track, with very well written, self conscious lyrics, sang wonderfully over fantastic, slow tempo 80’s style dance music, full of analogue synths and keys.

You Wanted A Hit is classy and arty, it builds and builds with layers of beats and rhythms before really taking off musically and allowing Murphy to attack the commercial music scene with his cynical lyrics that tell us all what LCD Soundsystem is about.

Pow Pow is funky and upbeat and follows the last track with its delivery of a message. The lyrics tell us not to take this too seriously and again hint that this is probably the last album we will see from this group.

Somebody’s Calling Me is very, very simple musically, single note piano and distorted synths play as this track gently rocks back and forth. The lyrics are again self conscious but I wonder if they have a double meaning?

Home ends the album, a mellow funky rhythm builds up the track, accompanied by drums and strings and James Murphy’s soft voice. Very classy house music which gets you up on your feet dancing and singing along.

So the album ends, 9 well thought out, well produced tracks, which leave you wanting more, leave you wanting to dance and leave you wondering why there are not more groups making music like this. It really is a great album, great for dance music and definitely one for the CD rack.
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