LCD Soundsystem

This new album from LCD Soundsystem is their first full offering of new studio material since 2007’s Sound Of Silver, which was named best album of 2007 by The Guardian, Uncut and the Independent among others, and like its predecessor 2005’s LCD Soundsystem received a Grammy nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album.

With these accolades, and James Murphy stating this would be LCD Soundsystem’s last release, the stakes are really quite high. So the question is does This is Happening deliver the good? Well the answer is an emphatic 'yes'. Starting with the slightly sparse 'Dance Yrself Clean’ you wonder where this choppy track is going, especially with pots and pans sounding like the providers of the beat. It all becomes clear as the 70’s punk infused 'Drunk Girls’ (lead single) cuts in to ramp up the beats. The big beats continue on 'One Touch’ (Orange Juice / Blancmange / B52’s on acid?); 'Home’ with it’s tinnier accompaniment over the beats – bit of a sparse track again, with obscure lyrics. 'I Can Change’ has a retro 80’s feel in the synths (sort of Human League) and vocally is quite similar as well although Murphy does get quite high at times!!

'All I Want’ has a faster beat, and a guitar that is very similar to Bowie’s 'Heroes’. 'You Wanted a Hit’ is an intriguing musical number, quite an oriental feel as Murphy keeps saying 'We won’t be your babies anymore’ – wonder who that’s aimed at, on their last album?

Special mention though to THE track on here 'Pow Pow’ – fantastic vibe, bit Talking Heads vocally (think Once in a Lifetime) and generally the stand-out track of an immense, and very long (9 tracks well over an hour) swansong (?) album.