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It’s by no means a new phenomenom but nonetheless it is still often a little surprising when a musician’s DJ set seems off kilter with their own production work. More so when that person has made a name for themselves producing dance music. For those that caught James Murphy DJing at the Big Day Out in 2006, this CD will come as little surprise. However fans of his band LCD Soundsystem, whose album Sound of Silver rates as one of 2007’s highlights for this reviewer, may be scratching their heads a little on first listen.
Murphy is best known as frontman/creator/director of LCD Soundsystem, as well as co-founder of dance/punk crossover label DFA Records. Murphy and Mahoney are said to be friends from way back, both with origins in the DIY punk scene of New York City. Around the turn of the century, with DFA newly formed, Murphy took to DJing as a break from producing, with an eclectic all-inclusive musical policy on what he would play. As LCD’s drummer and Murphy’s all round partner in crime it wasn’t long before Mahoney had joined him and the two were DJing together. With similar musical pasts it seems they were both on the same vibe when playing records. As Mahoney is quoted in the press release for this mix “we both have a love for some pretty gay-ass disco”.
Opening track ‘Beginning of the Heartbreak’ by Peter Gordon and Love of Life Orchestra lays downs down a commanding introduction to the mix. It is bold and proud with a thumping beat and fairly simple repeating bassline until shortly after the two minute mark when the track gets its funk on and the sax kicks in. This sets the scene for a mix of mostly four to the floor disco inspired dancefloor mayhem. The fun being in having more recent tracks such as Baby Oliver’s ‘Primetime’, albeit 80s electro inspired, sitting side by side with 70s and 80s gems from the likes of Donald Byrd and Chic. As the beats continue the vibe varies from the funk influences of GQ’s ‘Lies’ to dubbier electro leanings of Baby Talk’s ‘Keep On Move’. A token LCD Soundsystem track ‘Hippie Priest Bum-Out’ is thrown in shortly before the album closes as fittingly as it began, once again with Peter Gordon et al and the strung out ‘Don’t Don’t’.
First impressions of Fabriclive 36 were a little awkard. Funnily enough it got stuck in the CD carousel and kept finding it’s way on at unsuspecting moments. Sure enough it wasn’t long before it was winning the household over with it’s infectious groove. Whilst a live LCD Soundsystem show would be preferred any day, after this CD I’d probably stick around for the after party to get my funk on.
