LCD Soundsystem head honcho James Murphy has confirmed today that the group will be recording a new album for release this year. The news follows an earlier announcement that the band would be reforming to play Coachella and other festivals in 2016, as well as the release of a Christmas single, Christmas Will Break Your Heart.
Writing in a lengthy post on the band’s website, Murphy meditates on his songwriting process and the much fretted over decision to reform the band rather than record a solo album in his characteristically cynical style.
“We’re not just having some reunion tour,” he writes. “We’re releasing a record (sometime this year — still working on it, actually), so this isn’t a victory lap or anything.”
As yet untitled album would be the the band’s fourth, following 2010’s This Is Happening, the LP that carried the band into its huge and for many heart breaking 2011 farewell show at Madison Square Garden. And while these farewell shows are now more just see you later shows, Murphy addressed the betrayal and surprise some fans have expressed at the reunion and decision to make more music.
Saying that the new album “needs to be better than anything we’ve done before”, Murphy was very clear that the decision to re-unite comes from excitement at the prospect of making new music together and not a desperate grab for cash. Nevertheless though, Murphy acknowledges the outrage some feel.
“There are people who… have put a lot of themselves into their care of us, who feel betrayed by us coming back and playing,” writes Murphy. “If you cared a lot about our band, and… you feel betrayed now, then I completely understand that. It’s your right to define what you love about a band, and it’s your right to decry their actions and words as you see fit.”
Elaborating further, Murphy closed the message with the following request for any fans feeling hard done by the reunion.
“If we ever gave you any joy, just find something new and good that blows you away, and post it on our facebook page or something with, like, “hey fuck you guys! this is the REAL shit!” so we can hear new good stuff. that would be the best for all of us.”
Never change James, never change.
You can read the whole message on the band’s website here, although in the meantime you can refresh your memory of their awesomeness via their 2002 single Losing My Edge.
LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge
