Forever

by Heather PharesOn Forever, their first album in five years, Gus Gus takes the spare, linear sound of Attention to an even farther extreme, resulting in a set of tracks that are just a little too streamlined for their own good. As on their earlier work, the poppier, vocal-adorned tracks are among the best: on "Hold You" and "You'll Never Change," Earth holds her own as a dance music diva, turning out strong, soulful vocals that complement their austere surroundings. Collaborator and former member Daníel Ágúst also shines on "Moss," a remix of a track from his chamber music-inspired solo album Swallowed a Star; "If You Don't Jump (You're English)," which pits spoken vocals against twangy guitars and a rapid, shuffling beat, is another highlight. However, most of these tracks are too long and repetitive, a problem that shows up even more glaringly on Forever's instrumentals. Tracks such as "Lust," "Porn" and "Demo 54" feel unfinished and overdone at the same time, looping on the same crisp percussion or bubbling, acid-inspired synths without much embellishment or evolution. Forever isn't bad, but it is frustrating, and ends up feeling more like remix fodder or a Gus Gus loop kit than a full-fledged album.