LCD Soundsystem / Prinzhorn Dance School

Making the cavernous lung that is the Birmingham Academy feel anything close to intimate, warm, welcoming is a hard task at the best of times. Even when The Flaming Lips filled the place up with balloons and confetti, it still felt vaguely like sprinkling glitter on a turd. So for the super-minimalist pulse-monitor sounds of Prinzhorn Dance School, attempting to overcome the bastard of a venue was never even a consideration.

The Portsmouth three piece and newest signing to James Murphy’s DFA label confuse and confound the Midlands audience, diving them between complete indifference or intense perplexity, as their micro rhythms – a sew up of cautious bass drum, undulating bass riff and occasional guitar pluck – interact with listener’s minds on an unexpectedly deep level.

Transfixing as it is, it’s still hard to say if it’s any good. ‘You Are The Space Invader’ would stand out as the best track, if they didn’t have another one that sounded almost exactly like it a few songs earlier. Great idea, but the risk of being a one trick pony? See what happens when DFA get their hands on them, I guess...

It’s the first night of LCD Soundsystem’s mammoth world tour, and the first time they’ve been in the UK for over a year. As James Murphy approaches the microphone without fanfare, and the band launch into new dance epic ‘Time To Get Away’, there’s a strong sense of first night jitters.

It’s not until a rapturously received ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’ that the crowd are given an opportunity to truly let go. The band’s new album ‘The Sound Silver’ is a wonderful follow-up to the eponymous debut, but works at a different level. While their first effort kicked out the likes of ‘Tribulations’, ballsy dancefloor stompers, this time the music gives way to a soulful, deeper audio dynamic, that leaves you dancing on the inside.

Classic LCD epic ‘YEAH’ is the highlight of the show, extending to a mammoth 15 minutes, including ear-popping synth jam interlude. By the end of the show Murphy’s pace has picked up, and he too is getting into the swing of things. Ending with ‘New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’, the piano ballad finale of the new album, is a moment of ballroom bliss, but leaving the stage so briskly, and with no encore, leaves the crowd a little unsatisfied.

Tonight show is a little ropey, simply because it’s been a while since they’ve been on the road. It doesn’t matter though, as they’re still a sight and sound to behold. LCD Soundsystem are amongst the brightest of musical outfits currently sucking up air on this planet, and we should be thankful.

FUTURE GIGS

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