Albums by Gus Gus, Broadcast, Sven

Vath and Nightmares on Wax top a healthy week of new electronic-music releases.

Members of the Icelandic electronic collective Gus Gus will release a primarily instrumental assortment of slow, deep dance grooves, Gus Gus vs T-World, on Tuesday.

The seven songs on the album were written and produced in the early '90s, before Gus Gus was formed by programmer Biggi Thorarinsson and ex-DJ Herb Legowitz, under their former moniker, T-World. Instrumentalist Alfred More is the only other member of Gus Gus to contribute to Gus Gus vs T-World.

A few copies of T-World's "Anthem" were released in 1994 by Underworld's Darren Emerson's fledgling Underwater imprint, but no other T-World material has been released until now.

Gus Gus formed in 1995, when several filmmakers asked T-World to provide the soundtrack to the short film "Pleasure." The nine-piece group went on to release their debut, Polydistortion, in 1997, and a successful follow-up, This Is Normal, in 1999.

German DJ/producer Sven Vath, one of the leaders of the trance-techno scene, releases his fourth studio album, Contact (Ultra Records). Better known as a club DJ revered for his marathon sets (he has recorded two mix CDs for the "Mixmag Live!" series), Frankfurt-based Vath is also a co-owner of the respected German hard-house label Harthouse.

Contact contains the single "Your Sweat (Dein Schweiss)," released in January, and features production assistance from fellow Germans Anthony Rother and Johannes Heil.

Tuesday also marks the long-awaited U.S. release of the British electronic-pop band Broadcast's debut full-length, The Noise Made by People.

The 12-track album has been in the works since 1997 and is being released by the primarily hip-hop label Tommy Boy.

"We've been very successful in the dance marketplace, dating back to Information Society back in the day," Steve Knutson, the A&R representative who signed the band to Tommy Boy, said. "This isn't really a dance-music record, but there's elements in the electronics that will appeal to a crowd that bought records like Portishead."

"Come On Let's Get," a moody jingle featuring the soft, somber vocals of frontwoman Trish Keenan, is the first single off the album, an enhanced CD that also includes an advance track of the video "Paper Cuts" (RealAudio excerpt).

A remix EP by trip-hop pioneers Nightmares on Wax featuring De la Soul, Alex Gopher and DJ Food also will be released.

The six-track release features "Keep On," an original collaboration between Nightmares on Wax's George Evelyn and De la Soul. A remix version, "Keep On — Sound of N.O.W. Remix," is also included.

Gopher remixes the Nightmares on Wax tune "Finer," DJ Food handles "Dreddoverboard" and Rae & Christian put their touch on "What I'm Feeling." Capping off the release is a new Nightmares song, "Morse."

A Shocking Hobby, the fourth album by Dutch experimental-techno producer Speedy J (born Jochem Paap), covers abstract territory similar to Speedy J's previous, critically acclaimed album, Public Energy No. 1. From his Rotterdam home studio, Speedy J has issued records intended for serious listening as opposed to dancing since releasing his 1993 debut, Ginger, on Richie Hawtin's Plus 8 label. A Shocking Hobby, on Mute Records, meshes harshness and warmth on such tracks as "Balk Acid" (RealAudio excerpt) and "Drill" (RealAudio excerpt).

(This article was updated at 3:55 p.m EDT Tuesday, April 18, 2000.)