Is this happening? LCD Soundsystem’s Christmas wish is more than a one-off • DIY Magazine

Just before the clock struck on Christmas Day, LCD Soundsystem fanatics had their wish come true. They were probably expecting a few records, a nice 33 1/3rd book, some of James Murphy’s own coffee at best. But a new song? The group’s first in over five years? Actual “presents” could wait.

In the true Christmas spirit, there’s nothing like getting ahead of yourself. ‘Christmas Will Break Your Heart’ is a brutally beautiful LCD Soundsystem song. Not only is it a Christmas classic (a depressing as fuck cure for seasonal sickness), it’s also a tender-hearted Murphy staple, a song that builds from simplicity into crazed climax like the very best of his work. It’s a timely reminder that this is what he does best. Attempting to make music for subway stations, recording spontaneous, deuce-defying tennis soundtracks, even that damn fine coffee - it’s all well and good, but this is his calling card.

There’s something in the introductory text arriving alongside this new song that strikes a nerve. Murphy describes how it all came together in casual fashion. “al doyle had a short break between hot chip tours where he could be in nyc, and pat and nancy were home, and tyler agreed to fly out from berlin for a few days, so we all recorded this together,” he writes, as if the stars aligned.

Perhaps it was just the season to rack up air miles, but would Tyler Pope really just fly over from Berlin to hang out in DFA Studios and record one solitary song? Is there a chance there was a bigger purpose? Did one song lead to another, etc.? Is this all a bit much?

Cards on the table: It’s a fool’s game to base rational thought on pure intuition, but ‘Christmas Will Break Your Heart’ feels like more than a one-off. It’s also arrived just over two months since a rumour mill went into overdrive. LCD Soundsystem were playing Coachella, according to “multiple sources” close to Consequence of Sound. Billboard reported the same news, stated as cold fact, not Chinese whispers. DFA’s label manager followed up with a bad-tempered tweet dismissing the rumours. But back in October, a source close to DIY confirmed on several occasions that This. Was. Happening. And if there was ever a reason to think that actually, a reunion might not be below LCD Soundsystem’s standards, this was it - a glowing example of just how brilliant they are when recording together.

Is this in the LCD spirit? That’s the go-to doubt whenever whispers of a reunion have stirred. Back in 2011, final shows at New York’s Terminal 5 (and the ‘Shut Up and Play the Hits’ film that followed) put a neat, tragic ribbon on a perfect career, a tear-stained full stop. Nothing could be tarnished if Murphy did indeed call it quits for good.

But there was nothing completely, unflinchingly set in stone about LCD’s retirement. A couple of years on, and Murphy was already giving indication that if he changed his mind, at any point, the project could get another run. “If I had a regret I’d just go “Hey guys let’s go play some shows”,” he told Q in 2014. “So I miss it a little bit, it would be insane for me not to miss it, but just because you miss something doesn’t mean it isn’t the right thing that you don’t do it any more. You miss your parents when you move away, but get the hell out of there!”. A Coachella offer might be too good to refuse, but what about a whole tour? The band fittingly closed in their home city and spirit, New York. But not everybody had the chance to say goodbye, and ‘Shut Up and Play the Hits’ only further pushed the nagging thought that they finished too soon.

"Murphy's new song is timely reminder that this is what he does best."

Murphy’s been busy - we know that. He’s contributed percussion to two tracks on David Bowie’s new ‘Blackstar’ album. Before that, he co-produced Arcade Fire’s space-disco odyssey ‘Reflektor’. Nothing was ever going to keep this man out of the studio, but everything he’s done post-LCD has been closely aligned to the project. It doesn’t appear to have left him, and what’s so striking about ‘Christmas Will Break Your Heart’ is the sensation that he never left.

There are already enough reasons to get stupidly excited for 2016. Frank Ocean’s new album has to come out next year. Radiohead are clearly in the mood for sharing, given their Christmas gift of ‘Spectre’. Unless Kanye West or Rihanna strike before the year’s out, 2016 is in their court. Anything can happen.

And it won’t be long until we find out exactly what’s going on. Coachella announces its line-up on the first week of January, as it tradition. Get ready.

Tags: LCD Soundsystem, Features