Trimmed Gusgus Shakes, but Artistic Hooks Are Missing

The playful Icelandic electronica group Gusgus whipped together retro-trendy grooves of house, techno and synth-funk on Monday at the El Rey Theatre, concocting a frothy, ‘80s-flavored mix with more than a whiff of the Human League in such torchy numbers as “David.”

Dance enthusiasts embraced Gusgus as a late-’90s nine-piece collective of filmmakers, actors, singers and DJs. But it stripped down to three original members and new vocalist Urdur “Earth” Hakonardottir for its third collection, “Attention,” its first on L.A.-based label Moonshine Music. On Monday the group launched its first U.S. tour in three years, and the enthusiasm inside the packed venue ranged from cautious to full-on digging the vibe.

During the hourlong set, the players faithfully replicated the burbling, pulsating disco drone of such numbers as “Dance You Down.” But the ironic recombination of old-school cheese and modern, skippy beats didn’t disguise the weakness of most of the hooks--although there were a few genuinely sensual moments, such as the cheeky love song “Unnecessary.”

Films projected on a movie-screen backdrop showed landscapes, automobiles, waterfalls, etc., all linked by the image of a red cartoon ball evoking Kubrick’s “2001” monolith. Still, some longtime fans might find Gusgus less thematically and artistically substantial than before, its deeper messages abandoned for the shake-your-booty mandate. It would seem that sometimes less isn’t more after all.