As the king and queen of the Slabco empire, Steven N. and Jovita (better known as vocalist Lady Mallard) contribute to the beautification of the landscape not by picking up trash on the side of the freeway, but by putting out records by artists they love. Land of the Loops, Sukpatch, and Sientific American are but three of the ponies in the Slabco stable; all make pretty, oddly sad music that taps into the joy and horror that comes from looking at the world through a child's eyes. None of these groups are very well known outside of the twee indie pop world, but the fact that the extended Slabco family practically invented lo-fi four-track music with funky beats and samples is enough to ensure their place in music history. Self-Connected/ Twice-Elected is Volume All Star's (what Steven and Jovita call their own projects) latest party on wax, and it's one well worth attending.

Close Encounters of the Bump and Grind was the duo's first album, and the differences between it and their newest offering are subtle but significant. This is still mostly a midtempo affair consisting of a drum machine, bass, Moog, and obscure samples of the intercepted-transmission variety floating in and out of the mix. Lady Mallard still sings on about half the songs (a few more than on the first album, actually) in that quintessentially Northwestern, Mo- Tucker- by- way- of- K- Records way. But Self-Connected must have been recorded on better equipment, as the murky sci-fi sludge of Bump and Grind that sounded like it was coming through a black- and- white television speaker has been cleaned up considerably. This gives the beats some needed punch, but sacrifices the even mood that gave the first album the quality of a unified piece of work.

On the plus side, there's more variety here, the songs are better, and the sunnier disposition is much more likely to liven up your next soiree. So dust off that calligraphy pen and pick up a punch bowl at Goodwill. It's time to throw down, Slabco style.

-Mark Richard-San