It seems that in the year 2010, we have traveled back in time. Where exactly? To an age where a synth upstaged the guitar, DJs replaced musicians, and when robots literally rocked. Raves have never been as popular, and suddenly festivals find their headliners behind a mask and a large black booth. It seems like all those daytime reruns of The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles have really made their impact — the 80’s are back, and the music that dominated the decade has never been so relevant.
They’ve been around for over 10 years, featured in commercials and video games, and have played for millions worldwide. Yet with their latest release, Black Light, Groove Armada (GA) seems to finally be at the right place at the right time.
Englishmen Andy Cato and Tom Findlay’s eighth album features a different guest on every track, making Black Light more of “Groove Armada and Friends Production” than the typical GA that we’ve become so used to. At least for a somewhat disinterested fan, this comes as a pleasant surprise, as variety never hurt anyone.
The vocals are what truly make this album worth listening to. Smothered in reverb and layered harmonies, each track offers eloquent lyrics that far outshine their instrumental counterparts. One could scold GA for their overly simplistic messages, “Just for tonight, feels good/Just for Tonight”. But it is this exact accessibility to love and keep coming back for. In avoiding over-the-top lyrics, GA has perfected the ability to make feel good hits without a cutting edge. They’re fun and easy to dance to, which proves they’ve nailed their niche.
Don’t expect heart-wrenching music in Black Light; you most likely won’t find it. But if you look down for long enough, you might just see some toes, maybe even a whole foot, dancing drunkenly in beat.
