These UK legends don't give a shit. I mean they know that the genre in which they started in in the early 90's has done a 360 and now it seems like there is a new 'hot' house/dance/electronic act appearing every 2 days. This album is their 2nd this year. 'Black Light' first released in January was their 6th complete studio release and it came with a beautiful, soulful 80's bang. This little gem entitled 'White Light' is pretty much a reworked version of its darker sister. It's easily listenable even without having heard the last record. It has a mood and mind of its own. It can be smooth as silk but of course variate and turn into coarse granite scaving that divides the senses of pleasure and pain. Most of it though is funktastic. It does transport you back to the late 80's/early 90's where everything seemed possible. Clubs were actually places of uninhibited joy and dance, scenes were less important, as long as you had the soul. 'History' is one of the most tantalizing tracks on this record in this respect. The vocals are something out of OMD's b-sides coupled with reverberating bass and a hard hitting classic dance rhythm that is pretty irresistible. 'Paper Romance' is probably the best single from 'Black Light' but this version is something else. What I love about this album is that it treats the intros like gold and really does not let you escape the coming together of each track. Just make sure you have the bass knob turned to almost maximum. Back in the day you would see people getting down to a well thought out routine in the clubs. But from what I've seen, it seems those days are gone. Something that GA are trying out now is recording with live bands. 'I won't kneel' is basically a live track with not as many electronics as you would expect from the lads. Everything that is effected is worked straight from keys, drums, guitar and this is very little synth. Except for the build up where you do notice levels of compression. The bass is monster though. You can feel the fingers moving up and down the fret board and it tastes like gold. The vocals in this and the last album have been filled brilliantly by SaintSaviour. A blues/electronic artist in her own right. She brings plentiful helpings of charisma and her timing is also almost flawless. It seems like GA's intent on this and the last album is to let everyone know that new kids come and go but some things are timeless. They did reserve a little surprise though. The new and only single "1980" is a clear reference to the sound of the album but also a fantastic track. The beginning does not let you expect the powerfully bouncy chorus but when it's done you'll want more. Groove Armada are and for me, always will be one the for best electronic outfits in circulation. Their commitment to high strung emotional, soulful and ever so potent dance is in its own right, a testament in time.
The What rating: 4/5.
