Black Light

I must admit that I am a recent convert to Groove Armada, but nonetheless I am smitten with GA's infectious sounds. This new album is about 90% + sonically on the money with many nods to Disco and New Wave classics. I will hit a few of the highlights (in no particular order):

1) HISTORY (Featuring Will Young) - A delicious tune that reminds me of Jimmy Sommerville meets Sylvester meets Erasure meets Moby. Totally danceable, a gorgeous throwback to the best of the late 70's and early 80's. Easily one of the best new songs on this fine disc.

2) SHAMELESS (Featuring Bryan Ferry) - One of the best Bryan Ferry tunes I have heard in many years, and instant classic. From the cool French intro to the smooth synthesizers, this tune captures that haunting quality that has always made Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music but somehow transcends albums like Mamouna and Bette Noir. This is definitely music for a smoke filled night at a chic Euro club, very sensual and memorable. I would love to know who played in the studio for this track - five stars.

3) LOOK ME IN EYE THE SISTER (Featuring Jess Larabee) - Without question a successful homage to rocker Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders, an 80's groove yes...but with plenty of richness and "phat" as one other reviewer said. I liked this a lot.

4) PAPER ROMANCE (Featuring Fenech Soler and SaintSavior) - Harder to peg the influences here but certainly has elements of the best of Depeche Mode with a big dose of Sharpe and Numan from the 80's track "Change Your Mind."

5) TIME AND SPACE (Featuring SaintSavior and Jess Larabee) - One of the most powerful tracks on the album, with some hot vocals layered on top of a mixture of lush Alan Parsons Project riffs and trance electronica. Five stars.

6) FALL SILENT (Featuring Nick Littlemore) - This one feels more late 80's, with a tinge of The Human League and a sustained build up. Some pretty amazing vocals too make this one a treat.

7) JUST FOR TONIGHT (Featuring Jess Larabee)- An entirely different mood here - A creative and mood altering sound, with guitars and synthesizers. The vocals by Jess Larabee are superb.

Overall I think Groove Armada is at the absolute height of their many talents. This one is a keeper - great on first listen, and gets even better on the 2nd and 3rd take. There are a few duds, but this disc is pure genius.

Groove Armada follow up 2007's groovy hip Hop/Dub-inflected Dance CD "Soundboy Rock" with "Black Light". Out go big-voiced soul divas like Candi Staton and Angie Stone (who loaned their voices to a few tracks) and in comes a poppier guitar, more Eurodisco sound. Both albums could have been recorded by different groups.

With no instrumentals or ballads (like Soundboy Rock's "Save my soul", "What's your version" or "From the rooftops"), the mood is sunny and upbeat.

Opening is the guitar driven Alt Rock/Pop "Look me in the eye sister", followed by the droning falsetto-sung "Fall silent" with Nick Littlemore from Empire Of The Sun who also appears on the anthemic "Not forgotten" (with a snarling performance this time), the buzzing "Cards to your heart" (with spoken/sung lyrics), and on the Prodigy-style "Warsaw" with additional vocals by Saintsaviour.

"Just for tonight" is a charming Indie Pop ditty with jangly guitars and strings, while "I won't kneel" has a chorus that sounds like ABBA (vocals by Saintsaviour).

The clubbier numbers start from midway into the album; the electrifying "Paper romance", the outstanding "Shameless" (with some spoken French and crooned aching vocals by Bryan Ferry), "Time and space" (with swirling effects), and the closing hypnotic "History" with Will Young turning in a Jimmy Sommerville-style robotic falsetto to a slutty Disco backdrop. Awesome!

I like the sonic diversity on this album and though different from its predecessor, it is every bit as rich and good.

If the first three months of 2010 are any indication of how amazing this year in music is going to be, the world is in for one wild ride. At the current helm of this ultimate control, is the UK's Tom Findley and Andy Cato, aka Groove Armada.

On the duo's 6th full-length album release, Black Light (2010, OM Records), it would be a euphemism to say that the previous borders and confinements of genre and sonic exploration were expanded upon. It's difficult to describe the jolt of excitement that curses through the listener's veins once injected with a delightful and foreign substance such as that found within said topic of discussion, and it would not be incorrect to assume that every individual involved in the recording of Black Light was assuredly feeling the electricity all the way through the creative process.

As soon as the album gets underway the excitement engulfs the listener. The first strong female presence appears 4 tracks in, on "I Won't Kneel" (see video below), featuring London's SaintSaviour, who can confidently boast having shared a stage with Duran Duran and revered inspirations such as Candi Staton, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Carleen Anderson. SaintSaviour's soulful and spirited vocals lay down not only a solid base but also come across with a twinkle, that for lack of a better analogy, is reminiscent of Kirsty Hawkshaw's stunning vocal offerings on BT's classic trance album, Movement In Still Life (1999, Black Hole Recordings). Mature and masterful production provides the perfect environment for SaintSaviour's vocals to truly stand out and take hold of the listener's soul.

Jessica Larrabee (She Keeps Bees) is another fantastic reason to check out Black Light in 2010. Her smoke and molasses introduction on "Look Me In The Eye" sees her lusty vocals resonate within a rock-hard aural density that perfectly blends guitars, electronic stabs, swells and quells with an indie vibe and harmonious synths that swirl into perfectly-compressed midrange; completely filling the spectrum of sound and leaving no sonic stone unturned in this auditory crusade, frontiered by none other than Groove Armada.

"Paper Romance" will undoubtedly be a single that you'll hear at some point throughout your social outings in 2010, mixing dark and gritty house elements with those of classical and pop music into an electronically-driven instant favourite! SaintSaviour's supporting vocals exhibit an air of innocence that is masked in sophistication and leaves the ear slightly parched -thirsting for more.

The two fantastic female contributors connect as one on "Time & Space", which is literally *the* song we've been waiting to hear ALL year! Not only is this the funkiest track on the album, but it seems to take the best parts of The Juan MacLean, Gossip, Justice, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, and of course...Groove Armada, and rolls it all into one! Diva house + acid techno + electro + pop + ambient = Black Light

As most albums come to a close, many listeners either fade out or never quite make it there. To slack after the 7th inning here should be an arrestable offense! The final offering, "Just For Tonight", is a bright and happy, progressive & rockin' track that single-handedly bridges the gap of where pop ambient electronica and Americana come together as one, with all respect for singer-songwriters, producers, dj's and most importantly, the listeners.

Not only is this a strong and unexpected ending, but knowing that there are individuals out there in the world that feel strongly enough about their passion to pioneer ahead, confirming that innovation is not lost amidst advancements in technology and one-size-fits all mentalities. All the more fitting that this album is released in the US on OM Records (San Francisco), home to releases from artists such as Colette, Mark Farina, Samantha James, Bassnectar, King Kooba, Pete Tong and Sarah Main and Zion I & The Grouch. Check out a more complete discography, dating back to 1995, here.

"Infectious and starry-eyed--perfect for getting your dance on under the black light!" -Brian Ball, Music Editor, WomensRadio