So I’ve noticed that I’ve been giving pretty decent ratings when it comes to the albums being released of late. That’s the problem when you pick the best of the bunch each week.
This week I’m afraid it’s another high scorer. This Is Happening is LCD Soundsystem’s third album and it’s a corker.
For those of you who aren’t in the know, LCD Soundsystem is the brainchild of US producer and co-founder of dance-punk label DFA Records, James Murphy. This Is Happening is the follow up to their eponymous first album and their second offering Sound of Silver, both of which enjoyed Top 40 success.
The album opens in an understated way with Dance Yrself Clean a track that creeps up on you like a hybrid New York/African jungle creature. Primal rhythmic drums loop for a good while before the vocals and a stab of gutsy synths kick in.
Tipsy chicks
Quite different is the second track Drunk Girls, which has possibly the most chantable chorus since Blur went on about both Girls and Boys well over a decade ago. It also has verses that are lyrically worth multiple listens (check out their brilliantly out-there wonky-karaoke slightly-disturbing-at-the-end video below). Strong beats and well-chosen electronica are the order of the day from here on in.
It’s hard to categorise This Is Happening. At times it has the beats and squeaks of a dance album, but it’s not something you’re likely to dance to. It has the melodies that go with proper songs such as on All I Want and on the Human League-esque I Can Change, but James Murphy definitely doesn’t fit into the singer/songwriter mould.
One thing you can say is that, modern production techniques aside, This Is Happening drips with knowing retro flourishes that hark back to some of the cooler early 80s bands like The Associates as well as the aforementioned Human League. Think of a more laddish version of UK geek-popsters Hot Chip and you’re someway there.
I’m not a big fan of the track Pow Pow, essentially an overlong Talking Heads pastiche that’s not quite as good as a Talking Heads song, but one weakish track out of an entire album ain’t bad. Pow Pow aside, at nine tracks long the album doesn’t outstay its welcome (when I first played it I thought something had gone wrong when the album ended as I was expecting more).
In the end, this is an album that’s not necessarily going to be your all-time favourite (although Drunk Girls has quickly worked its way into the list of songs currently on heavy rotation on my iPhone) as it’s not the sort of album that emotionally grabs you. But it should be one that you’ll want to play more than once, and one that you’ll enjoy a little bit more with each listen.
Nick Bradshaw
