LCD Soundsystem

When DFA signed Hot Chip it all seemed a little odd: ultra hip NY cool endorsing struggling British geekery. But it worked out, not least financially, with The Warning hosting some fine, fine dancefloor singles.

So we'll credit them with some nous, but really, what they see in Prinzhorn Dance School is anyone's guess. For a band with such a name on a dance-orientated label, they ain't half turgid and energyless. Most reminiscent of The Kills, their girl/boy declaimed vocals are repetitive not just during each song, but constant and unchanging throughout the set. It's impossible to say for sure whether they repeated some songs during their mercifully short stint onstage, such is the complete lack of variation.

LCD Soundsystem's trick is to work out a near-perfect ratio of repetition to variation. Most of the songs start with a naked live drum beat, and aside from, say, 'Movement' (the explosion of which causes hella fun moshing), it’s hard to know what song is being played until the bassline drops. When the other elements do appear though, you're reminded just how many great songs James Murphy has written in this guise. The setlist is mainly comprised of Sound Of Silver songs with the now classic early singles thrown in, with such a high level of quality that 'Losing My Edge' is barely missed. The songs establish an expansive groove between early ‘90s house and the rush of Hawkwind, the vocals alternating between monologues from Murphy's slob savant persona and bursts of shimmering, metallic Bowie-esque four-part vocal harmonies.

The only real departure from the 4/4 dance-off that makes LCD is 'SOS' and live set closer 'New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down', a beautific, almost showtune-y waltz, finaled with grandiose guitar stabs from two members of Hot Chip drafted into the LCD fold. It's difficult to imagine how it could be much better. A couple of tweaks to the setlist maybe, possibly speeding up 'Tribulations' is a little unnecessary - but LCD live comes highly, highly recommended.