JUNIOR BOYS > Begone Dull Care

As much a study in sequencing as song craft, Junior Boys’ third LP Begone Dull Care is at once meticulously produced and emotionally charged. Rather than relying on repeated choruses so prevalent in 2006’s So This Is Goodbye, Begone lets its dense atmosphere linger behind prolonged interludes and subtle bridges.

Label: DOMINO

[Rating: 4 STARS]

As much a study in sequencing as song craft, Junior Boys’ third LP Begone Dull Care is at once meticulously produced and emotionally charged. Rather than relying on repeated choruses so prevalent in 2006’s So This Is Goodbye, Begone lets its dense atmosphere linger behind prolonged interludes and subtle bridges. Opener “Parallel Lines” adds layer upon layer of digital pinpoints-start with a low-end base or incessant house beat, followed by stray sneaker squeaks or echoed ear pops-that converge into a synthetic swirl for Jeremy Greenspan’s hushed croon to rest on. Despite its cold, sleek surface, Begone is wholly sensual, from the intentionally cheesy MIDI sax that haunts the closing moments of “Bits & Pieces,” to the porn-friendly techno beats that boil to the surface on closer “What It’s For.” Slow-moving, patient, but never dull, the Junior Boys are one of the best of their kind.