A BAND ON THE BRINK: CATCH LCD AT EL REY.Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer Although touring as a full band, LCD Soundsystem's records are created essentially by one person, James Murphy James Murphy may refer to:
Murphy sings, writes and combines electronic effects and tape loops with conventional drums and guitar to make funky punk dance-rock that fills ballroom floors around the world. Points on the LCD Soundsystem LCD Soundsystem is the musical project of producer James Murphy, co-founder of dance-punk label DFA Records. The music of LCD Soundsystem is a mix of dance music and punk, along with elements of disco and other styles. map include elements of Brian Eno Brian Eno (pronounced IPA: /ˌbraɪən ˈiːnəʊ/) born on 15 May 1948 in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England) is an English electronic musician, music theorist and record producer. , the Fall, Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American rock band that formed in the early 1970s and was based out of New York City. The group consisted of David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. , Jonathan Richman Jonathan Richman (born 16 May 1951) is an American proto-punk musician. He is known for his wide-eyed, near-childlike lyrical outlook, and music that, while rooted in 1950s rock and roll structures, can be wildly eclectic. and Roxy Music Roxy Music is an English art rock group founded in the early 1970s by art school graduate Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards). The other members are Phil Manzanera (guitars), Andy Mackay (saxophone and oboe) and Paul Thompson (drums and percussion). . There are also strong hints of techno and Euro-disco, the synth-filled sound at the far edge of '80s new wave. An indie fave fave Informal n. One that is preferred above others or likely to win; a favorite. adj. Favorite. [Short for favorite.] in L.A. All of which has drawn such a large following that LCD Soundsystem, on the basis of steady touring, a smattering of 12-inch vinyl singles and two acclaimed albums, has become one of Los Angeles' favorite indie dance bands. Sunday, Murphy and crew open a three-night stand at the El Rey El Rey, which means "The King" in the Spanish language, may refer to:
Noun a restless or wandering person recently said LCD "has got to be the best touring band out there right now." For his part, Murphy is looking forward to getting back on stage at the El Rey. "I like the fact that everyone's standing up, that they're free to dance and move around and have a good time," he said. "It's a perfect size. And the room just sounds good." Murphy's LCD Soundsystem debuted with "Losing My Edge," a single that became one of the favorite indie releases of 2002. The song, one of the first tracks released on Murphy's own DFA DFA - Deterministic Finite-state Automaton. See Finite State Machine. dance-punk label, was a parody of the one-upmanship that can take place when music geeks get together. The LCD debut album followed a few years later, met by critical acclaim, two Grammy nominations and Top 20 success in the U.K. "It's easier for unknown indie acts to be heard in England because it's a much smaller country and there's an active weekly music press, plus radio takes chances," the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Murphy said. "Radio over there is afraid to miss anything. Unlike the States, where radio doesn't care at all about missing everything." A few months ago, LCD released its second album, "Sound of Silver" (Capitol). The album is built around the unusually touching track "All My Friends," a Talking Heads-like tune using a seven-minute piano riff that deals mainly with diminished youth and being apart from loved ones. Both John Cale and Franz Ferdinand have recently rushed out covers of the wistful number. Pros, cons of touring "I don't dislike touring, but I miss my wife and bulldog terrier," Murphy said from a tour stop in Philadelphia a few days ago. "I don't think touring is bad, or that being in a band is bad -- it's just hard for a married 37-year-old guy. I lived a totally quiet life until my 30s, and I got married when I was 34. It's a funny shift, but life works out that way sometimes." Along with his touring schedule, Murphy gets called to remix and produce other acts. After he rose to fame with LCD's first album, he had studio sessions with Britney Spears and was asked to assist Janet Jackson. "I love dance music," Murphy says. "New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of disco from the '70s and early '80s was not this refined, overproduced sound. Look at Chic. Chic was a tough, top-notch rhythm band. They were fantastic. As far as I'm concerned, early New York disco was raw, like punk rock." All of which has little to do with Spears or Jackson. On stage, LCD can be counted on to provide a high-energy buzz that recalls '70s punk-dance acts like Suicide. Perhaps surprisingly, Murphy uses electronics only sparingly in his live set. "The only things that are electronic are the techno songs," he says. "LCD is about being a live band. We have weird rules like whatever comes out of a sampler has to have an 'inorganic' sound. We actually bring a piano on tour. And our synth synth n. 1. Informal A synthesizer. 2. A style of light popular music made with synthesizers. Also called synth-pop. parts aren't done by a sampler, either. "Our electronics are way rawer than most people's guitar rock." Fred Shuster, (818) 713-3676 fred.shuster@dailynews.com LCD SOUNDSYSTEM Where: El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. When: 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. Tickets: $19. (213) 480-3232; www.ticketmaster.com. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: James Murphy is the heart and soul of LCD Soundsystem, singing, writing and mixing sounds to create dance-rock. |
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