Groove Armada's third release is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Since the release of their acclaimed 'Vertigo' back in 1999, Tom Findlay and Andy Cato spent a year or so promoting it along with the singles “At The River” and “I See You Baby” and remixing for a variety of artistes such as Madonna. They only began work for 'Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)' a year later.

With 'Vertigo', the boys decamped to rural Britain to nudge the creative juices, then returned to London to refine, twiddle and experiment with sounds. They employed guest vocalists and instrumentalists, some of whose contributions remain on record while others have yet to be used. They tried a different way of building songs. Many of 'Vertigo's' tracks were built around a sample. However, for the new record, Groove Armada started a jam session and moulded the songs from that base material. Samples could, if necessary, be added later.

What results is a more mature sounding record but one that is both instantly accessible and at the same time offers its secret gems gradually. There are some songs, which are pure pop. Then there are others like “Little By Little”.

You'll find Groove Armada albums in the dance section of record shops. But Armada's music is more universal - perfect music to relax to, to drive to, to entertain to but most importantly to listen to. It's a soundtrack for every aspect of modern life. Perhaps this is why Groove Armada's music is often heard as the soundbed for exotic holiday features on TV shows. Perhaps this is why Madonna became a huge fan and asked the boys to remix her “Music” single.

Groove Armada's choice of guest vocalists offers another clue in our attempts to categorise the sound. “Little By Little” and “Healing” both feature Richie Havens, the veteran folk musician whose contribution on both tracks imbues each with an almost spiritual quality.

The same can be said of Tim Hutton's vocals on “Drifted”, the lovely “Tuning In” and final track, “Join Hands”, all uplifting in an almost gospel way. “Drifted” which also features distinctive guitar from Nile Rodgers, moves from light to half-light and back again, and if you close your eyes you can almost see a beautiful sunset regardless of what time of day it is. “Join Hands” meanwhile is a sumptuous meeting of beats and piano, refined by Andy's hilled trombone, which lazily picks out echoes from such an early song. The “Tuning In (Dub Mix)” hints at a possible expansion to Groove Armada's sound, which looks set to surface around the release of their next album.

The mixture of electronic instruments and classical instruments is perhaps best exemplified on “Lazy Moon”, a song that sounds exactly how “Lazy Moon” should sound. It's a patiently layered song, which builds around joyful cello, guitar and a string arrangement that in turn gives way to electronica, which in turn reflects the mood created by the cello.

Possibly it is Andy's classical training taking hold here as well as on the epic “Edge Hill” which comes in like something which would have been rejected from the 'Mezzanine' sessions for being too melodic - all dark, stormy beats - before bursting forth in a crescendo of strings like rays of sunlight breaking through clouds across open fields - a pastoral symphony.

Elsewhere, the aforementioned “My Friend” is an achingly gorgeous pop and deserves to be No 1 for at least six months. “Fogma” is an experimental yet spectacular collision of a simple beat, bass, effects and a sample from “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy, which develops itself into a kind of deep house disco groove.

Perhaps the final clue to refining the essence of Groove Armada's strain of dance comes in “Superstylin'”, the first single from the album. Musically it's got a house meets ska in King Tubby's greenhouse with a plunging bassline, which if you play it loud enough can cause damage to small buildings. But in the lyric, Groove Armada rapper MAD unwittingly reveals a crucial key phrase - “Inspirational music..for your spirit and your mind”. Here is the core of Groove Armada - music that is intelligent but not clever, electronic but soulful, dance but not dance. As MAD concludes, “maybe just recline.” It is surely the best advice.

download their e-card!