James Murphy has been one of the most significant figures in music over the past ten years, and if – as he has indicated – This Is Happening is to be the final outing for LCD Soundsystem, it is a damn fine way to say goodbye. The record kicks off with ‘Dance Yrself Clean’, an utterly inspired mash-up of Talking Heads and The Knife that is one of the finest tracks Murphy has ever written.
The classic musical magpie, Murphy’s genius for adopting different styles is positively Bowie-esque, and no doubt The Dame would appreciate the producer’s nods to, first, The Velvet Underground’s ‘White Light/White Heat’, and also to Bowie’s own ‘Heroes’ on ‘All I Want’. The latter, along with the subsequent track, ‘I Can Change’, forms the emotional heart of This Is Happening – plaintive, reflective tunes in the vein of ’Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up’ and ’New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’.
The final quartet of songs – ‘You Wanted A Hit’, ‘Pow Pow’, ‘Somebody’s Calling Me’ and ‘Home’ – is a wonderful tour de force, a suite of psychedelic dance tracks built around irresistible grooves, all sprinkled with that magical Murphy sound-dust.
Welcome to the pleasure dome.