James Murphy, the former frontman of New York alt-dance band LCD Soundsystem, has called modern commercial dance music “repellent”, explaining that it makes him “want to vomit”.
Music Week are reporting that Murphy made the remarks during an interview at a Red Bull Academy session as part of Norway’s by:Larm Festival. When asked for his opinion on the current and future states of dance music, Murphy revealed that he wasn’t “so excited about new stuff anymore”.
“What I see in the commercial side of it I find repellent,” he said, before adding: “It makes me want to vomit… I just don’t like it, it’s not for me but it’s also not designed for me; I’m old and it’s very maximalist and I’m not a maximalist guy.”
Despite the cynicism, Murphy proved slightly optimistic, but mused on the notion of himself being slightly out-of-touch. “I’m sure there’s great stuff happening,” he said, “But it’s just not reaching me and it probably shouldn’t.
“I’ve been really hoping that there’s two people DJing to a room full of 150 people that think what I did was stupid and are making something awesome… I won’t hear it until they do a shitty sell out track and I never hear what’s great about them.”
Murphy also proved his modesty in the interview. When asked about the staggering success of LCD Soundsystem, who released three critically acclaimed albums throughout the 2000’s before they disbanded in 2010, he claimed that the band were “accidentally current”.
“That was a blessing that happened that had very little to do with me having my finger on the pulse. I was listening to music from the ’60s and ’70s,” he admitted.
LCD Soundsystem will be issuing a five-LP vinyl box set for Record Store Day 2014 on 19th April. Featuring the show previously released as documentary concert film Shut Up And Play The Hits, it’s titled The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live at Madison Square Garden and will also be released digitally on 20th May.
Murphy’s post-LCD projects have included producing a few tracks on Arcade Fire‘s 2013 album Reflektor, co-producing Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ Mosquito, remixing David Bowie, making a short film titled Little Duck and designing a custom sound system alongside Soulwax. He’s also revealed that he wants to soundtrack the NYC subway system.
Watch: LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends (Live from Madison Square Garden, from Shut Up And Play The Hits)
