LCD Soundsystem - 'This is Happening' (2010)

1. Dance Yrself Clean
2. Drunk Girls
3. One Touch
4. All I Want
5. I Can Change
6. You Wanted a Hit
7. Pow Pow
8. Somebody's Calling Me
9. Home

The king of cowbell is back with his third, and supposedly final, studio LP 'This is Happening'. LCD Soundsystem, one man music producer slash performer James Murphy, burst onto the alternative dance scene back in 2005 with his self-titled LP, released on Murphy's own co-owned DFA Records label. Since then Murphy has been involved with many other artists, in various capacities, such as Hot Chip, !!! (chk chk chk) and early stars of the DFA Label, The Juan Maclean.

So, 'This is Happening'. Only 9 songs to carry the weight for 65 final LCD minutes. This is quite the task, but anyone who is a fan of the previous self-titled and 'Sound of Silver' albums knows exactly what they are going to be in store for.

The album opens with 'Dance Yrself Clean' (yes, that is how it is spelt). Just like 'Get Innocuous' starts on the previous LP, we are treated to a long drawn out introduction mixing some simple beats, synth and of course cowbell! When the song kicks in we get the sound we have been waiting for, and are most familiar with. Big electro beat, lots of synth and Murphy singing up his lungs. Single 'Drunk Girls' is up next, and like previous opening singles from the other LP's tends to be one of the weaker tunes from the album. A nice dancey tune very reminiscent of 'Daft Punk Is Playing At My House' but definitely, to this reviewer, the poorer side of the LCD sound. 'One Touch' brings back the feel of the first album, helped with the contributions on the track from The Juan Maclean members. Samples are a rife on this one providing a space age penetrating beat throughout. 'All I Want' is one of the best tracks from the album and seems to bring out the more indie side to LCD. Long strung out guitar, and less hasty vocals, along with some excellent keyboard/synth solos (which you don't ever expect) make this a hit just like 'All My Friends' did before. We are transported back to the late 80's with the sound we hear on 'I Can Change'. A slow electro tune with deep drawn out vocals throughout. A nice beat keeps it going but without the big beat heard earlier on. 'You Wanted A Hit' seems to be a mix of everything LCD are about. Keys, big beat, guitar, bass and progressing towards moments of sheer mental noise throughout the track, where keys and samples go crazy for periods. The song incorporates all the sounds we are used to hearing throughout the album. 'Pow Pow' feels like 'Losing My Edge' has been taken off the first LP, shaken about and put onto this one. It's a decent tune but nothing of great impact on the album. The penultimate song on the album is 'Somebody's Calling Me'. For me the weakest song on the album and of little significance I feel apart from effectively being the opener for the best track on the album, 'Home'. For me the best has been left to the very end, if this is indeed the end, of all the LCD Soundsystem works. A fast keyboard intro, lots of cowbell and beats build this one up and up until the wonderful bass line comes in. Carried throughout with samples and Murphy's vocals at his best make this the perfect send off and probably my track of 2010 so far. Basically this song needs to be heard so I shall say no more. I still feel there is a touch of Talking Heads 'Naive Melody' in it, but not sure if anyone else believes me.

'This is Happening', for me, is a great great album. It feels like a compilation of what the group have done over the years and tidied it all up for one last listening pleasure. I don't think there are as many live 'anthems' as such like 'All My Friends' and 'Get Innocuous' but with songs like 'Home', 'One Touch' and 'All I Want' on this one I know I am happy enough. I think we will continue to hear lots of Murphy's work over the upcoming years as the man has made quite an impact on the scene and will continue to do so whilst steering his DFA records. For now it's good day, and a big thank you, to LCD for the great tunes they have provided our ears with!

Two Door Cinema Club - 'Tourist History' (2010)

01. Cigarettes In The Theatre
02. Come Back Home
03. Do You Want It All
04. This Is The Life
05. Something Good Can Work
06. I Can Talk
07. Undercover Martyn
08. What You Know
09. Eat That Up It’s Good For You
10. You’re Not Stubborn


Not being the biggest fan of local music, apart from friends who play in the scene, I am surprised I would take to a band like Two Door Cinema Club (or TDCC for short). In fact, this album has almost been listened to death by myself considering its 'official' release was only on Monday past. So, three guys from mighty Co. Down making super-poppy upbeat electro indie without a drummer! Surely this cannot be true. Well blink again, it is. Kitsune, the ever popular French indie label, took them under their wing, threw them into a studio beside Duran Duran and bam, 'Tourist History' was born.

A few songs remain from their 2009 EP 'Four Words to Stand On' including 'Cigarettes in the Theatre', the album's opener, 'Do You Want It All' and the new single 'Undercover Martyn'. At first I was a bit disppointed with the over production, or so it seamed, on the tracks I already knew. But it wasnt to be long before it grew on me to be my favourite album this year.

The band is a 3-piece without a drummer. A feat which I feel works well for them. Less touring equipment, for a start, along with the ability to create their own synth bits and drum loops before adding the guitars, bass and vocals over the top. Each song on the album seems to consist of a relatively similar pattern; big beat in the background, fluent bass line, rhythm guitar and the frequent twangly guitar and synth. A formula which I for one certainly enjoy. TDCC have fallen into, where many others have failed to do so, a genre which is at it's most popular. Indie dance music at it's best and would certainly work well on a night out on the town.

Anyway, the album is full of great songs. 'Undercover Martyn' will sure to be most popular with the added fact there is now a video to accompany it, that and the ridiculously catchy chorus (to the basement anyone?). 'This is the Life' and 'Something Good Can Work' are firm favourites of mine with more catchy choruses and excellent ccompaniment guitar riffs. The bass on 'Something...' is probably the best, and most original, throughout the album. There are, as always, a few fillers on the album such as the final tracks 'Eat That Up..' and 'You're Not Stubborn' but its fine with me. Every album has them, and generally its not until major amounts of listening they stand out to you. All in all, a great album when listened from cover to cover. If you take to it once, you will hooked until you can't listen to anymore.

I never thought i'd see the day when I would big up some local music. But fair play to these guys.....they have done well and I think they will go far. Well, at least until the genre fades away which may not be too long away.