Track Listing

1. Purple Haze
2. Groove Is On
3. Remember
4. Madder
5. Think Twice
6. The Final Shakedown
7. Be Careful What You Say
8. Hands Of Time
9. Tuning In
10. Easy
11. Lovebox
12. But I Feel Good

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17878 in Music
• Released on: 2003-03-05
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Tom Findlay and Andy Cato have steadily been dismantling their chill-out crown ever since the single "At The River" saw them float into coffee-table ubiquity. Lovebox finally stretches the duo's eclectic tastes beyond any semblance of continuity or restraint, finishing the job started on last year's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub).

Named after Groove Armada's bi-monthly London club night, the duo's fourth album captures the excitement and diversity of pace you would expect from a masterful DJ set. While the opening track "Purple Haze" doesn't have a sniff of Hendrix's majestic histrionics, it is certainly Groove Armada's most rock & roll moment to date. Neneh Cherry lends her sultry voice to the lusty funk-fuelled hip-hop of "Groove Is On" and the urban soul of "Think Twice", and "Remember", with its languorous beat and swirling effects, nods toward their down-beat prime.

Feisty dance-floor shakers are here in force though. "Madder", mixing the raps of MC M.A.D. with a pulsating bass and itchy guitar hook, kicks hard, and "The Final Shakedown" is an undiluted house anthem, albeit with a feisty ragga vocal. But one of the most surprising tracks is the rich, soul-drenched sophistication of "Hands of Time", a gorgeous reflection on love lost featuring the spine-tingling voice of Woodstock folk legend Richie Havens. Lovebox is a disarmingly eclectic album, its infectious, maverick, party spirit defying preconceptions. --Christopher Barrett

CD Description
'Lovebox' the fourth album from the Groove Armada steers away from the chillout sound of earlier work and opts for a more dancefloor friendly sound. Featuring guest vocals from Neneh Cherry, Richie Havens, and hip hop outfit, Nappy Roots, the album mixes dirty house beats and dubby basslines with punk attitude. The Status Quo sampling single 'Purple Haze' is also included.

Customer Reviews

Another Groove Armada album, another mixed bag
Yep another Groove Armada album and this is right on the same tracks the boys were steering down with Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub. Injecting yet more musical styles with infectious beats and electronic ear-candy, this album steers even further away from chill-out/dance/electronica and some songs seem almost straight rock, funk, hip-hop and soul.

But like the previous album there seems such a mixture of real gems and songs that you'd quite easily leave behind on your trip to a desert island. Particular highlights are Groove Is On, a real head-nodding hip-hop tune, the down-beat beautiful Think Twice, the Beatles-A-Like Tuning In and the elegant tearful, packed full of the soulful voice of Richie Havens on Hands Of Time.

I had the pleasure of seeing Richie Havens play live at The Jazz Cafe, Camden two years ago and he blew my mind. Groove Armada's resurection of this excellent singer/guitarist/songwriter has produced some of the best moments of their last two albums. Lets have a whole GA/Richie Havens album guys!!

For all the great tunes, there are those duds such as Be Careful of What You Say that you'll be dying to skip over.

But hey, its like pizza, even bad Groove Armada is good. And there's some great stuff here, so if you liked the last one you'll want this one, if only to kick-back to the sound of Richie's voice.

Finally, the 'Groove' is apparent
All three of Groove Armada's previous albums have been heavily based around well-produced laid back tunage, but this is a step into the more upbeat. The album is still brilliantly produced, and the music high quality, but this is something that clubbers will find more easy to dance to.

Around three quarters of the tunes are deeply influenced by Chicago House or heavy breakbeats, bringing GA's reputation more into line with the quality live act that they really are.

Highlights of the album include Madder, a house/hip hop hybrid with spine-tingling lyrics from MC MAD, and a chorus you can't help but sing-a-long to, alongside Be Careful What You Say, a deep house track fused with stuttering breakbeats that warm the cockles of the heart.

This album, safe to say, has helped Andy Cato and Tom Findlay finally shake off their reputation as Coffee Table Fodder, and anybody who enjoys uptempo music with the slightest hint of chillout (See FC Kahuna), should be champing at the bit to buy it.

Genius
This is the best album Groove Armada have made, and it's one of the best dance albums of the past ten years. Really funky, with lots of lush textures but also a good deal of badass hip-hop, plus some great vocals from Redrat and Sunshine Anderson. "Madder" and "Easy" are the stand-out tracks, but there's maybe just one track that falls below excellence. Great for after hours vibing, or in the car, or to get a party started.