Icelandic pumping electro house. But sort of clever too.

Attention is Gus Gus’ fourth album. Well kind of. The Icelandic collective used to consist of 12 members, including nine songwriters, jointly responsible for Polydistortion and the This Is Normal LPs. But understandably the band buckled under the strain of all that creativity, and nine members (yes nine) decided to leave.

Then one of them came back, making a four-piece. They got a new singer, Urdur Hakonardottir, and Gus Gus II was born. If you’ve heard any of their previous stuff then, not surprisingly, it’s different. Gus Gus have now found a ballsy house groove, infused with the sound of electroclash.

However, there is a subtlety and cleverness at work here, so often missing from straight, banging house music. These guys know a melody when they hear one. Although Attention may disappoint older fans and may quickly go out of fashion, it’ll make a stomping soundtrack to a night on the tiles. But don't take my word for it, check out the tracks for yourselves and tell us what you think. MW 10 October 02

Attention, released 14 October 02 on Underwater Records.