The Juan Maclean – “A Simple Design”
DFA OG John MacLean — AKA the Juan MacLean — will be back with another LP of expertly assembled dance music next month. The album, entitled In A Dream, once again features LCD Soundsystem’s Nancy Whang on vocals; she’s been a full-time Juan MacLean member for several years, but she’s out at the forefront now, both on the album sleeve and in the mix. Her presence is felt on “A Simple Design,” a moody new wave disco production of the highest order. All sorts of synths groove and spiral around Whang as she delivers a spirited yet elusive vocal take, the sonic elements building into a house of mirrors that eventually disintegrates into handclaps and ghostly echoes. It actually sounds like a very complicated design, but like all good engineering, the end product feels effortless. Hear it.
In A Dream is out 9/16 on DFA. Pre-order it via iTunes, DFA, or PledgeMusic.