Album Review by EDF
The kings of laid-back grooves are back and come armed with some new sounds. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed GOODBYE COUNTRY, HELLO NIGHTCLUB, LOVEBOX has something that will please most people. Unlike other dance acts, Groove Armada does not rely on traditional dance beats to get people moving their feet and makes LOVEBOX different to other artists’ efforts.
PURPLE HAZE is the album’s opening effort, which is also the first single released, and features Red Rat on vocal duties to a repetitive guitar riff. GROOVE IS ON is a groovier track that features both Neneh Cherry and Kiminul from Jigmastas, although Cherry is not used to her potential. REMEMBER is a slower, ambient track sampling a vocal from Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny. MADDER featuring MC M.A.D. is a more commercial track that is bound to have them flocking on to the dance floor in an RHCP kind of way. THINK TWICE features Neneh Cherry and at least this time she is used more on this track. Those expecting Cherry to rap on this slow number will be disappointed.
Business picks up with FINAL SHAKEDOWN and the second appearance of Red Rat on this hand waving dance track but here Red Rat is nothing more than background fodder. The only good thing about the next track is the title itself, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. Here the Armada sounds like they left their music computer programs running as they quickly went out for a coffee break. Lucky they came back in time to do a decent job of HANDS OF TIME featuring Richie Havens. If there is any track here that sounds like a single then it’s the house flavoured EASY featuring Sunshine Anderson. The album’s closing track, the Ska influenced BUT I FEEL GOOD, will leave you feeling good.
Even though this is Groove Armada’s second album release in a short space of time, there are a few tracks here that you would skip over after repeated listens. Armada are on a bit of a roll and while most of the album is good, you know they are capable of coming up with a classic album.
