Twelve years and six full-lengths into their career, Groove Armada have produced their dark album, a record that translates the dense, frenzied sound of Anglo-American dance-pop of the 2000s into the context of the duo's highly stylized productions. There's a clear focus to the record, too, virtually all of it centered on mainstream dance of the '80s hi-NRG synth pop variety, including nods to Bronski Beat, Soft Cell, and Human League. Although there aren't as many varied guest-star vocal features as in the past, Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry and Pop Idol Will Young are taken along, and a young female vocalist named SaintSaviour makes her debut. Aside from the stars, her contributions form the bulk of the record, with mixed results: "I Won't Kneel" sounds derivative of Goldfrapp gone hi-NRG, but SaintSaviour redeems herself on "Paper Romance," a clear winner for a single with its pinging synths recalling the heady days of "Smalltown Boy."
Groove Armada
Black Light
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Black Light Review
by John Bush
Track Listing
| Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Groove Armada | 04:00 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 2 |
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Groove Armada | 04:08 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 3 |
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Groove Armada | 05:30 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 4 |
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Groove Armada | 04:34 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 5 |
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Groove Armada | 04:44 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 6 |
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Groove Armada | 04:04 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 7 |
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Groove Armada | 06:16 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 8 |
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Groove Armada | 04:50 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 9 |
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Groove Armada | 05:32 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 10 |
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Groove Armada | 04:29 | SpotifyAmazon | |||
| 11 |
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Groove Armada | 04:03 | SpotifyAmazon |
