LCD Soundsystem, “Home” (2010)
find it on This Is Happening

The full album (hear it here) review first: it’s not wall-to-wall brilliance, but there’s at least four tracks that can be added to the already-thick James Murphy Is a Genius file. The sound of the album is one of the most stunning production jobs I’ve heard…ever. It’s a beautifully warm record, which is amazing when you realize that it sacrifices none of the energy and excitement that LCD Soundsystem and Sound of Silver got with much colder and sharper sounds.

On my initial listens, it’s “Home” that speaks most clearly to This Is Happening‘s genius. It’s flat-out gorgeous. The drum sounds are absolutely perfect, and even the disco hi-hat and muted woodblocks come through with a warmth that only a room-reverbed acoustic guitar could match. Like he’s done so well before, Murphy coaxes melody where there really isn’t much, and brings vulnerability to the dance floor through sound as well as words.

Love at first listen.