Gus Gus Vs. T-World

Album Review

Though this album is credited to the kings of Icelandic techno known as GusGus, it actually consists of tracks recorded in the mid-'90s by a duo consisting of GusGus charter members Herb Legowitz and Biggi Veira, who were known at that time as T-World. Although everything here is beat-driven and deeply informed by the Detroit techno and deep house traditions, the seven tracks on this disc are ultimately better suited to the chill-out room than the dancefloor; the grooves on compositions like "Anthem" and "Earl Grey" are solid, yet the musical textures are consistently soft and warm rather than driving. "Purple," with its stuttering breakbeat and ethereal female vocal sample, comes closest to being a party anthem, while everything else moves in something approaching dreamtime. There's nothing especially innovative in this music, yet it seems to get more interesting the more you listen to it.