Dance-punk superstar James Murphy turned 40 this year. He celebrated by renting the recording studio/leisure palace The Mansion for several months to record his latest (and purportedly last) LCD Soundsystem LP This is Happening. Maybe his age is irrelevant, but the sound of the new album is decidedly mature, a powerhouse of well-executed songs continuing some trends from 2007’s acclaimed Sound of Silver while exploring new sonic territory with a practiced ear and unique creative direction.

The signature sound certainly abounds: sturdy bass lines carry Murphy’s half-sung tenor and refined synths. However, new sounds and production styles hearken to the late 70s: Gang of Four bass lines are nothing new, but songs like “All I Want” feel fresh with tinny, bouncy piano and distorted guitar hedging on screechy reminiscent of earlier Bowie; slightly eerie vocals and guitars elsewhere on the album conjure up Brian Eno and Robert Fripp.

The album opens with a champ: “Dance Yrself Clean” has a haunting element, with a heavy synth bass line and very simple, human background vocals, yet hooks in your brain with crisp drums and screaming bridges, breaks, and crescendos.

The single “Drunk Girls,” with a video directed by Spike Jonze, is a rowdy jam, sure to be lubricating the summer’s hipster house parties, resting on solid rock n’ roll chops.

Another standout is the subdued “You Wanted A Hit.” Though opening light, the song moves into refined heavy groove peers like Ratatat or Fujiya & Miyagi strive for. Though simple, the track possess a maturity and restraint which cannot be taught to just any jerk with Pro Tools, but Murphy has cultivated for years. Though that sound present on Soundsystems hits of yore “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” or “Losing My Edge,” the lyrics on this pop anthem clarify that this is something new:

Yeah, you wanted a hit
But tell me where’s the point in it?
You wanted the hit
But that’s not what we do

Appealing to scenesters and, apparently, the masses alike (the record debuted on the Billboard 200 at #10 and replaced Queen Gaga from the top of the Dance/Electronic charts), this album is more than art party fare: it doubles as a headphone record, worth repeat listens, with a lot of inspiration and personality vested in it. Humbly self-reflective, James Murphy knows how to kick out the jams from early middle age.

This is Happening is available from DFA Records through iTunes, Amazon, and other retailers.

P.S

Kid Cudi and Chip tha Rapper add their voices to “Dance Yrself Clean,” with “All Talk” (via Fader)(mp3 [Play]
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P.P.S

Do check out the cooler-than-cool, yet genuine, behind the scenes mini-documentary, part 1 of which is embedded below.