Slumber Party

This Detroit idea (leader Aliccia Berg is the only original member) has been going for eight years now, swooning by on REM sleep-phase lullabies that meander but successfully weave in '60's girl-group longing and coy indie sex appeal. It's never a total drift-off bore, just inconsequential at times. So while Musik's more overt new wave/kraut leanings come a year or so late, they're a welcome spit-shine on the shoe-gaze. After four CDs, the band has secured its best production yet: The fuzzy guitar lines still amble along, but often right up to your face, brushing against your cheek (as with the crunchy electric chords of "Becuz" and skittery acoustic strums of "Madeupmind.") The Party also retains its cool mystery with subtle, chirpy electronics that sneak through the songs. If the album falls back into a dull plod ("Hey Hey China") or goofy girlie wordplay ("I'm a shopaholic ... you're an alcoholic"), it can rouse out of those slumbers as on the lovely space-folk of "Electric Ocean" or the droning piano/vocal ballad "Electric Cave." As doped and dreamy as it seems, Musik is just as striking — well, as striking as Slumber Party gets. — Eric Davidson

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