While out on their 2018 tour behind the comeback album
American Dream, the full
LCD Soundsystem band swung into Electric Lady studio in New York to record their live set plus a few covers. This was something they had done before on
The London Sessions back in 2010, and much like that album, this is an important document of a band at the height of their powers (again). Snapping through lively versions of songs from the album, the group balances the various synths, drums, and guitars into a lively, pulsing sound for James Murphy's always trenchant vocals. It's an act they've being pulling off for a long time and it still doesn't sound at all tired. It helps that Murphy wrote a fine bunch of songs, from the rambunctious ("tonite") to the poignant ("oh baby") to tracks that rage like
Gang of Four at their best ("emotional haircut"). It also helps that the band play everything with passion and fire, like they are in a sweaty club instead of a legendary studio playing to no one. Added to the cracking versions of their own songs are covers of
Chic (a scratchy "I Want Your Love" sung with gusto by Nancy Whang) and songs by two titans of synth pop. They assay a faithful rendition of
the Human League's "Seconds" that finds Murphy doing his best
Phil Oakey impression and a take on
Heaven 17's "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" that's breathless fun. It's a fitting end to a set that's played and sung with inspired energy -- one that shows that
LCD Soundsystem are still one of best working bands around even as they near their second decade of getting dance floors moving. ~ Tim Sendra