Groove Armada Goes Under the Black Light

© Groove Armada

Limey progressive house duo Groove Armada sets sail once again, and this time they're headed for new(ish) territory Black Light. As before, the Groove is still built on synths and block-rockin' beats, but with Black Light, Andy Cato and Tom Findlay firmly stake their claim for electrobeat pop rockdom.

It's an ambitious trip. One that they've talked about for 12 years, ever since they came together on the London club scene as dance music promoters in the ‘90s for club gigs named Groove Armada. This early era of collaboration grew from promoting music to producing it over the course of several albums and remix albums under the same Groove Armada moniker, with their mix of house and electronica to the electrobeat rock sound they arrive with today.

If you were expecting Neneh Cherry, some lyrical flow from the Jeru the Damaja or even Richie Havens, you'll have to sail back in time to Northern Star, Vertigo or their last proper album, the deceptively titled Soundboy Rock. On Black Light, Groove Armada announces the change in course from the get-go with the opening track synths channeling Gary Numan (in "Look Me In the Eye Sister"), then John Foxx (in "Fall Silent") and a smidgen of Ultravox (in "Just for Tonight").

What? You want radio-friendly hits? Got em': "Paper Romance," the album's first single is dancable, fun and radiological. Stadium fist-pumping shoutabouts? Check: "Warsaw," and "I Won't Kneel" will have you pumping to the beat of the franctic lights. Chill down tempo groove? Voila: The Bowie-esque "Shameless" features vocals from Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry.

The album closes with "History," a final lesson in how to program a Roland Juno-106 synth and peel back the decades to land squarely back in the '80s. And so it would seem that the recent pronouncement made right here that the '80s were going the way of the mullet in 2010 was perhaps a bit premature.

Groove Armada hits the road with their first dates in London and Dublin totally sold out. So, switch on the Black Light, break out your glow stick and start pumping your fist in the air because Groove Armada's rock party is just getting started across the pond, and it's sure to be sailing to our side very soon – book now!