LCD Soundsystem to 'take a break'

By Damian Jones
Newsbeat reporter

James Murphy is heavily involved in a new rock project

LCD frontman James Murphy has said his band are taking a lengthy break from recording.

The producer said the dance collective are too involved in other projects to commit to making a new record in the near future.

He said: "I guess it will be a while until we do work together again. It definitely won't be in the next month or two.

"We're like a military unit, when we take a break we take a real break."

Murphy revealed that one of the reasons why he has no plans to record the follow-up to Sound Of Silver in any hurry is because he is heavily involved in producing a new rock project on his DFA label.

The outfit which features Scott Wells and Paul Sprangers, from the defunct Minneapolis band Hockey Night, are putting the finishing touches to their debut album.

"We're hoping to release it next year. I'm in the mixing stages now," Murphy revealed.

"The consistent theme is kind of 70s radio rock with contemporary singing. Some of it sounds T Rex-y, Cheap Trick-ish and Fleetwood Mac-ish.

"The only thing we need to do now is decide on a name. We've been going back and forth trying to decide on one but we still haven't come up with one yet."

I guess it will be a while until we do work together again James Murphy on LCD Soundsystem

Murphy, who also plays bass and keyboards on the record, said he was pleased to return to his rock roots.

He previously performed with grunge band Pony and indie electro outfit Speedking during the early 90s.

The LCD frontman also worked as an engineer for Sub Pop band Six Finger Satellite.

"It's nice to get back to recording guitars," Murphy enthused. "It's something I used to do well and a lot 15 years ago.

"So I'm lucky that I have the luxury that most dance producers don't possess which is a really long extensive background in rock engineering.

Murphy said working on projects away from LCD helped to keep the band "fresh and fun".

He told Newsbeat: "It's great when we all go off and do our own thing although it's difficult for scheduling when we're on tour.

"But it's really lovely that we have the opportunity to do other things and we miss each other.

"I'd rather it be like that than me thinking, 'I've got to f****** get away from these people'."

Although, LCD will be taking a lengthy break, Murphy said he would like to do a follow up to their Nike composition for joggers, 45.33.

LCD Soundsystem performing at Reading in 2007

"I would love to do something like that again and I don't think I would hesitate to integrate that type of thing into an album," he said.

"I was in the middle of Sound Of Silver when I made that and it really helped finish the record because it gave me a chance to let go.

"Because of that it helped me make decisions which needed to be made to finish the record.

"It also boosted my confidence and helped me look at different ways of doing stuff."

Murphy is set to curate the This Is Not London season at the Matter music venue on 24 October alongside LCD drummer Pat Mahoney and DFA acts Juan MacLean and Yacht.