Groove Armada: 'Black Light'

Groove Armada, a duo consisting of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay, were a firm fixture of all chill out compilations of the early 21st century. With their laid back hits such as ‘At The River’ their songs also proved a staple of numerous adverts and movies. They also offered the odd house / dance track to counterbalance, such as the fantastic ‘If Everybody Looked the Same’ and ‘I See You Baby’. They proved that they were not just about the after party comedown. They were also the main dance event as well.

All their previous albums offered something different. Their relaxed debut was followed by dance songs only to be followed with funk and rock inspired albums. They are certainly not a band that rest on their laurels. True to form, they have done exactly the same with their sixth and latest studio release ‘Black Light’. Following in the latest trend of 1980s retro acts, Groove Armada have offered an unapologetic electro-pop album full of synths, electro bass and big choruses. It’s quite a change for the duo but one that appears to have paid off handsomely. It has made them relevant in today’s music scene.

One criticism often directed at Groove Armada is that their releases have been so musically diverse there is nothing to connect the songs to a Groove Armada sound. Granted, that most of the best bands around do have a recognizable sound, whether that be the music or vocals. Groove Armada opts for neither of these two options. Instead of churning out variations of ‘At the River’ with an occasional intermittent delve into house music; they have continued to transform themselves each time. There strength lies with this constant evolution ensuring they have not faded into obscurity some time ago. Also, whereas before Groove Armada had always been about big singles rather than an album act, they have produced a consistently cohesive album and not just a couple of standout tracks.

‘Black Light’ is strongly influenced by the 1980s pop scene and reads like a list of who’s who of the time. There are certainly flourishes of Gary Newman, The Human League and New Order, and even Bryan Ferry sings guest vocals on one track, ‘Shameless’.

As the name suggests, ‘Black Light’ is supposed to represent the bands darker side and a shift away from the upbeat sounds of past releases. Whereas before they have found satisfaction by looping single-lined vocals over and over, they now attach serious messages and emotions to their lyrics rather than mere sound bites. Groove Armada have always boasted solid production and songwriting as well as wise selections when it comes to guest vocals. Vocal duties here are shared by (Empire of the Sun’s) Nick Littlemore, Saint Saviour and Jess Larrabee; and one track each for Bryan Ferry and Will Young.

Larrabee’s two offerings are strong and contribute fully to this album with the propulsive opener, of ‘Look Me In The Eye Sister’ and equally impressive, and Fleetwood Mac influenced, ‘Just for Tonight’. Saint Saviour also proves a good choice for this 1980s feel lending a softer edge to some of the coldness of synths and electro bass of ‘I Kneel Down’ and the catchy disco sing-a-long ‘Paper Romance’. Littlemore can come across as rather annoying and grating to listen to. He is tolerable on ‘Fall Silent’ but on ‘Not Forgotten’, ironically, he is better off forgotten. It’s truly awful. It is the two singers with just one a piece (Bryan Ferry and Will Young) where the true enjoyment lies. ‘Shameless’ is an instant classic from the French narrative at the start to the faded conclusion. The slow electro burn compliments Ferry’s vocals perfectly and proves to be one of the great singles of the year so far. On History, Will Young’s vocals have been transformed into a haunting affair, so much so that his voice is rendered unrecognizable to this simple yet stunning song.

Groove Armada’s constant evolution means that they have longevity into the second decade of the 21st century. They have finally produced a consistently good album which is sure to be one of the best electro-pop albums of the year. It is which much expectation we wait to see which direction Groove Armada will take next.