LCD Soundsystem
James Murphy: legend.
The two terms are seldom seen without one another these days. Impossibly ‘fashionable’ the connotations may seem to his name, yet Murphy looks the sort of ordinary, dishevelled fellow that’d serve you a crusty bagel in the local grubbery.
Maddening, since it’s essentially this one person that has created, launched and since pioneered the now-global record-label/brand DFA – a talent resource that has taken in production for the likes of Radio 4 and The Rapture, whilst releasing a diverse multitude of fantastically influential ‘00 dance-punk talent. Critically acclaimed, dancefloor pummelling and effortlessly tuneful, DFA’s output was recently snapped up by EMI in a licensing deal; soon the meteoric rise will no longer be designated to the hipsters in clubs, and – instead – the unassuming masses at large.
Murphy himself, meanwhile, can’t help but get tempted to contribute in this whole music malarkey himself, alongside co-conspirator Tim Goldsworthy. Their act LCD Soundsystem, fittingly, are one of the year’s most-talked-about, consistently flawless live acts – tribal-like in their wholly live boogie shakedown euphoria. It’s percussive, infectious and wildly soulful, James the unlikely frontman becoming a voice of the people through anthemery such as ‘Yeah’ and a soon-to-be-surely-massive (if justly re-released) ‘Losing My Edge’. Highlights at both Reading/Leeds and All Tomorrow’s Parties alike this year, the crossover allure is undeniable.
That debut-LP due in the new year, and a new DFA compilation out in November, really, James: it’s a privilege to meet your acquaintance.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: LCD Soundsystem: lame at this online thing. They’re still waiting to upload their site at time of press, but keep checking back for that eventual day they’ll grace our online screens with their humble presence.
DFA RECORDS: Go on, then – have a peruse of Murphy’s production-projects and some of the acts he’s helped unleash/release on to the world. Buy some records while you’re at it, and get wise.
FESTIVAL REVIEW – ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES 2004: a late-night Sunday appearance from Murphy and co. in one of the full live-act’s first ever gigs.
FESTIVAL REVIEW – CARLING WEEKEND 2004: the band had honed their repertoire and live panache to a fine art by the time of their August-bound, summer weekend gallivants in Berkshire.