Groove Armada are well known for re-inventing themselves. It's a key attribute for a production duo that have been going since 1996, and have 8 albums to their name, all without a front man. But this latest album is probably the most pre-conception-busting of them all.

Basically, everybody knows at least one Groove Armada track, whether it's the dreamy chill-washed beach anthem that is 'At The River', the television-ad friendly 'I See You Baby (Shakin' That Ass)', or the dancefloor monster that is 'Superstylin'', but with such a varied sound, it's hard to find a place for them in your heart. When I first heard 'I Won't Kneel', the first single to be released from the new album 'Black Light' (released March 1st in UK), back in October, I thought it was either something from the Flashdance soundtrack, a Toyah Willcox forgotten B-side, or a new single from Goldfrapp. Being brutally honest, if it was any of those three I still would've enjoyed it, but to find out it was by Groove Armada was a real shock. The duo I've always admired, listened to but never really loved, had finally hit my sweet spot.

The track features the icy vocals of SaintSaviour, a singer the duo found through MySpace, and is one of the lesser known collaborators on the album, especially when you weigh her up against the illustrious Brian Ferry. The second single from the album is even better than the original. 'Paper Romance' does the 80's pop sound almost too well, as does the whole album in general. It again features SaintSaviour, this time with Fenech Soler frontman Ross Duffy, belting out an anthem over a LCD Soundsystem-esque bassline. I'm so in love with this tune at the moment, that it's difficult to describe how excited I am about the rest of the album, but I'll give it a go.

Sure there are the standard fall-away tracks on 'Black Light', that have become a trademark of GA albums. 'Warsaw', for example, sounds like a half developed Basement Jaxx track. But there are more killers than fillers on this stunning LP. Brian Ferrys aching voice sharpens on 'Shameless', but fails to out-shine the amazing production behind it, which can only be a good thing, and shows just how far Groove Armada have come in the past 14 years. There's some well oiled old-skool electro cuts on there too, with Empire of the Sun's Nick Littlemore providing the sweeping vocals on a couple of tracks, most notably the beautifully building 'Fall Silent'. There is even a surprisingly effective collab with Will Young on closing track 'History', which just goes to emphasise the pre-conception busting I mentioned earlier.

This album has to be the strongest from Groove Armada, and shows they are aging well. It understands dance music is as much about the getting ready and the come-down as it is the club, and its slightly chaotic first half echoes the sound of home drinking, shared hairdryers and waiting mini-cabs. Whilst the middle and end perfectly translates the alcohol fueled rapture of a party's zenith, and the confused, intense emotions of the come-down, in to flawless synth pop anthems.

ORDER 'BLACK LIGHT' NOW ON iTUNES

Groove Armada - Fall Silent (Feat. Nick Littlemore)


Groove Armada - Paper Romance (Feat. Fenech Soler + SaintSaviour)



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