James Murphy is known to many of us. He's a part of the production duo DFA and head of the label of the same name. Now, after producing several albums of artists of such glorious reputation as The Rapture, Black Dice or Radio 4, he blesses us with his solo project's debut. LCD Soundsystem exists since 2002, and has released two singles which enjoyed great success not only among Alt/Indie elitists. Those singles, named "loosing my edge/beat connection" and "Yeah" are included on a bonus disc which comes with the album. Subject of this review, however is only the real album, starting off with "Daft Punk is playing at my house". This song is not, as the title might suggest, a hommage to the french House duo, but rather one of the album's rock tracks. Mind you, I'm not saying you cannot dance to it. In fact 'dance music' and 'rock music' are not, as they often are said to be, opposites, and LCD soundsystem proves this thesis. If you want a comparation, Soulwax is the best I can give you. But LCD soundsystem is simpler and rawer. While Soulwax make danceable rock music, LCD Soundsystem play Dance Punk. But it isn't just that. The album's tracks range from straight-in- your-face Post Punk ('Movement', first single of the album, is basically The Fall with a heavily distorted, ever-repeating bassline and programmed handclaps) to almost ambient music on the final track 'great release'(*Namedropping mode on* Brian Eno *Namedropping mode off*). In between, there is the magnificent Disco-Hymn 'tribulations' and the EXTREMELY groovy 'disco infiltrator'. Remarkable about this album is the steady change of tempo. The aforementioned 'movement' is followed by 'never as tired as when I'm waking up'. This song, with its downbeat and its piano sections reminds me of Can, with which Murphy is said to be obsessed. What I really enjoy about this album: Murphy's voice. It's highpitched, he can shout as hysterically as he can hum gently. You'd think that the voice isn't that important on a dance record, (for this is what it is, despite its versatility) and I assume you can't really sing along to it, but the way he sings is just great, and I think it is what predominantly gives the songs their vivaciousness.
The reasons I do not award this album a 5.0 are 1. that some songs sound a little too similar to other bands' work. But don't forget there's a bonus cd, which is also excellent, and could make it a 5.0. I just didn't include it into my reviw because it's older material. Which doesn't make it a less worth buy.
