06/23/08
Text: Nik Mercer
For a while there, D.F.A. Records was in limbo. What initially started as a James Murphy's vanity project of unheard of proportions became a monotonous synonym for "bland, gritty funk-infused dance music" and nearly sputtered out. Then Murphy and company decided to promote other fringe niches like spacey funk, Italo-disco, and ethereal dance clatterings with the verbosity of a full-fledged major label. (Granted, they are tied to EMI and Mute Records through that deal, so calling them a "major" isn't entirely unfair.) First, they added a load of unusual acts to the roster (Shit Robot, Prinzhorn Dance School, Holy Ghost!), second, they came up with the bright idea of bringing obscure vinyl cuts from across the pond to American audiences with the imprint label Death From Abroad!, third, they reissued Atlanta, Georgia's great post-punk offering, Pylon, and voila, everything came together. LCD Soundsytem is now radio-friendly, wiz kid Justin Miller is now a sought-after DJ, Maurice Fulton is now relevant again through Syclops, and everything those three letters (D, F, and A) touches turns to gold.
Most recently, D.F.A. picked up !!! offshoot, Free Blood, a duo that has positioned itself as the "soundtrack for parties gone awry." Their spastic songs shift from shouty garage funk ditties to bass-heavy jams, but never sound inorganic or incohesive. With one 12" under their belts ("Never Hear Surf Music Again" RONGDFA01) and another slated for shelving on July 29 ("Royal Family" RONGDFA03), this duo is geared up to be... indestructible.
Buy Free Blood wares at the D.F.A. webstore.
