Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock

It’s all about the groovy baby

By T Prest-Smith

Groove Armada’s latest offering combines elements of house, electro, reggae and rock. At its best it’s innovative and infectious, whereas at its worst it’s repetitive and mindless.

Fifteen tracks feels like too much dance and electronica in the same place, and the album would be much more focused if the selection was smaller.

There is constant fluctuation between uptempo house tracks and down tempo tunes for chillaxing in the sun so your mood changes with each new track, which makes for chaotic listening.

The chillout tunes reveal the influence of Zero 7, while the electro funk of tracks like The Girls Say, See What You Can Get and Love Sweet Sound is uplifting and energising.

The real surprise is Song 4 Mutya, where the boys hook up with ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena in a slice of commercial 80s pop. Sadly, the irritating Drop That Thing and Get Down are likely only to be of appeal to the chavs bopping away in Ibiza. Luckily, fast-paced tracks like The Things We Could Share and Save our Soul compensate with a catchiness that increases with each listen.

Unfortunately though, anyone hoping for a cult classic like their early single I See You Baby will probably be disappointed.