Monday, June 13, 2011

REVIEW: Gusgus - Arabian Horse

8 out of 10

A little bit ago, I began my "trying to own/acquire every 80's-90's 4AD album phase". During said phase I stumbled across Gusgus (+many others, but we'll talk about them at a a later date). Their debut, "Polydistoriton" (1997), was a perfect mesh of melancholy and club. To say I was obsessed with this album is a bit of an understatement. After absorbing that album in for (quite) a bit I went on to the rest of Gusgus albums, all. awesome(seriously check em' out if you haven't) . Anyways, flash forward 10(+) years later (this time on Kompakt--the most amazingly perfect electronic label of the moment) Gusgus are back at it with what could (quite possibly) be their most accomplished effort to date.

"Arabian Horse" sounds a lot like the other GG albums. Very smooth, definitely clubby/trancey, seductive, smart, and catchy as hell. Minimalist would/should eat this sound up. Not to say it's necessarily "minimal" though, it's actually quite layered and dense. But the way Gusgus produce/write their sound and put it together just sounds so damn crisp, clean, unified and simple/not objective to any ear out there. "Arabian Horse" is a peak into what was one of the best decades ever for House/Dance Music, the 90's. It only makes sense that an offspring from said generation would be able to capture it's essence so perfectly. Rather than just focus on one generation though, Gusgus fuse the best of 'yesterdays thumps' with 'today's sensuality'. Anyone can make "dance music", Gusgus make art in the form of seductive & danceable mechanics.

I like this one a lot, I think I'll keep it. (Recommended to all living/breathing beings)

Standout Tracks: Selfoss (i love when the accordion pokes it's head out), Be With Me (this song is begging for a fast drive with the top down), Deep Inside (see: Be With Me), Over, Arabian Horse (♥u♥), Changes Come (see: Deep Inside)

1 comment:

  1. This IS a great album. Not really into electonica but this album... BLOWS!

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