Soundboy Rock - Groove Armada

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Eclectic, varied, happy - vibes .
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Soundboy Rock is the latest and 7th release for the Cambridge based duo, Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. Loosely described as electronic or funk, their genre has surpassed the hedonisitic, late 90's pop madness, and deposited them into the chill out category.

Groove Armada were first recognised in 1997, their claim to fame being a limited single known as "At The River", a track that sampled "Old Cape Cod" by Patti Page, and would slowly propel them towards wider acknowledgement from the British public.

The group tasted real success in 2000 when Fat Boy Slim sampled and re-mixed "I See You Baby", a track that would also later catch on, having been featured on the Renault adverts of that year.

The group's fourth album release was "Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)" and as indicative as the name, suggested a departure from the more ambient, chill-out music Groove Armada were famed for, and an entry into up-tempo, and even break-beat styles with "Superstylin" nominated for a Grammy Award that Year.

Groove Armada's brand of electronic funk and soul, alongside some of their more breakbeat craftwork, has propelled them to the headline of many a UK festival over the past five years. Not least Creamfields, yet also LoveBox , a festival borne of their 2002 album of the same name. The London Weekender has since become a mecca for eclectic showcasing, from the likes of the B-52's and Blondie, to Soul to Soul and the Super Furry Animals headlining this year's event!

Soundboy Rock is a first in a while for Groove Armada in terms of an eclectic, capricious collective of some damn fine tracks, cunningly co-ordinated into a steady torrent of trip-tastic tunes. Upon reflection, SoundBoy Rock takes much of it's innovation from the 2001 album "Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)" seeing a return to the break-beat, trip hop styling we loved. The album emanates individuality, and the genre-swinging from dancefloor pop to reggae style beats doesn't alienate one track from the next.

"Get Down" is the first and obvious track to dissect from the album, featuring Stush, and released on the 30th April, it's sets the first impression for what the rest of the album is going to be like. As first impressions go, "Get Down" is an up-beat, funky , reggae-vocalled number, with a bassy beat and some clever sampling, and is sure to be (as has been predicted) a long-standing summer hit.

"The Girls Say" is a prime example of the switch in genres. More hip-hop than I've ever heard Groove Armada showcase. The vocals sound a little like 50 cent, the rhythm and accompaniement sound, well, don't kill me,but alot like they've sampled something from Grandmaster Flash, I just cannot put my finger on which track though. The track itself jumps out as something that should be released as a single, with that hip-hop vocal and the rhythm, it could probably do the British R'n'B scene some good right now!.

"Soundboy Rock" is actually quite deceptively titled given the fact it's a laid back Reggae song with a Carribean style vocal, and a slight melody. If ever a track was to conjure the cliched vision of siiting on the beach with a huge cocktail and sizzling in the sun, it has to be this. Takes me off to sunnier climes every time I close my eyes and listen.

"Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)" featuring, yes you guessed rightly, Mutya Buena of Ex-Sugababes fame. This song is surely about the split, you can just tell by the line: " guess who has replaced me...don't get dramatic". As one of the original driving voices behind the Sugababes sound, it's as if Mutya has actually teamed up with her ex-bandmates for this inclusion on the album. Completely Sugababes and totally not Groove Armada, I thought this was a weird one. Very catchy, very poppy, and probably another sure-fire single, it's a track that feels as if it doesn't belong all the same.

Although the album is lengthy at 18 tracks long, the style is ever-evolving, so it's pretty difficult to get bored. The mood changes from Hasta Luego (Mr Fab) a Cafe-Del-Mar-esque chillout number to the 80's inspired "Things We Could Share" with it's disoc-esque danceyness. Groove Armada have exceeded expectation, and thrown in every element of surprise imagineable to ensure that the whole experience is one long, ear-friendly holiday!