Party
conney island baby | 12/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To quote Pitchfork, this is the first time Slumber Party honours the second part of its name over the first. This album does not abandon SP's trademarks: Aliccia Berg still sounds like a hybrid of Nico and Nancy Sinatra, the band still plays languid, hazy electronic melodies reminiscent of Suicide, if Alan and Martin had been two Detroit heartbroken girls with a psychedelic fixation... only this time, the experimentation is ampler, giving way to such feet-stomping tunes as Boys/Girls, and the Eastern feel of Thin is Wide (a wandering song worthy of an electronic Bloody Valentine). There is also after hours poetry hand by hand with 1970s sunshine, but the tunes have become less folk-like, leading me to dismiss the previous VU comparisons as less dominant than Echo and the Bunnymen "echoes" -no pun intended- although lacking their signature drumming.
Berg and company not only seem more open to experimentation, but also come off as opinionated and energetic, something that had not been reflected in their previous sleepier dream pop albums. My favorites so far are Destruction/Construction, Thin is Wide, and Late Nite. I'm sure in a few weeks the list will not be the same. Give Musik time to settle in you and enjoy."