This week's electronica releases reviewed

JUNIOR BOYS

Begone Dull Care Domino **

Canadian duo Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus have charted a much admired route through melancholic, end-of-the-night electronica. Debut Last Exitand, especially, their second album, So This Is Goodbye, saw the pair present a case for electronic thrills built on masterly precision, sleek textures and an alien sort of ennui. Leaving aside the fact that sticking "dull" in the title is a bit like giving a hostage to fortune, Begone Dull Carereally doesn't quite know how to distinguish itself from the pack, and the album often loses momentum and settles for a place in the shadows. That's not to say it doesn't have some dash and panache – Bits and Piecesbubbles away with finesse and energy – but overall, it's a case of too much ambience and not enough ambition. A sadly underwhelming, unremarkable affair. www.my space.com/juniorboys JIM CARROLL

Download track: Bits and Pieces

VARIOUS

Brand Neu! Feraltone ***

1970s Krautrock duo Neu! (Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother) have been mentioned over the years as having influenced the careers of bands such as Joy Division, Public Image, Primal Scream and LCD Soundsystem. Neu!'s best moments encompass sleek minimalist beats and hypnotic "motorik" rhythms, but, with some notable exceptions, this tribute collection of rarities, oddities and unreleased tracks from bands that (ostensibly) owe Neu! a debt doesn't necessarily work. Cornelius ( Wataridori), Kasabian ( Stuntman) and Foals ( Titan Arum) add only tedium. However, Oasis – yes, really – on I Can See It Now, Primal Scream ( Shoot Speed/Kill Light), LCD Soundsystem ( Watch the Tapes) and Fujiya Miagi ( Electric Karoake) fuse hard-neck rhythms with no small inventiveness. It's hardly, er, brand Neu!, however, so get thee to a record store to find out what all the justified fuss was about. TONY CLAYTON-LEA

Download tracks:Oasis, I Can See It Now; LCD Soundsystem, Watch the Tapes; Fujiya Miagi, Electric Karoake