C/D: Groove Armada

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I'm interviewing them tomorrow...I have no strong feelings about them whatsoever.

Thoughts/recommendations/appropriate questions?

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 05:37 (twenty-three years ago)

New album is "rocky" apparently. Was the last one, like, Rambo or something?

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 05:38 (twenty-three years ago)

they're the basement jaxx that jamie oliver would like.

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 07:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Ask them why they suck so hard. Except for that one song, "At The River" or whatever it's called.

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 07:42 (twenty-three years ago)

superstylin is good

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 08:00 (twenty-three years ago)

A friend of mine refuses to listen to any music post-"The Queen Is Dead" apart from Groove Armada.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 08:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Ask them if combining as many popular styles and influences as they do will always result in music as bland as theirs...

― Jacob, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 08:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Groove Armada get a bad deal generally because they're lumped onto so many of those nasty 'classic ibiza chill out euphoria fudgebucket' compilations...but they're actually pretty good live, good musicians and the new album sounds great from what i've heard of it...'i see you baby' is class too

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 10:29 (twenty-three years ago)

re the blandness issue...are they the Coldplay of dance music?

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 10:30 (twenty-three years ago)

I saw 'em live a few months ago and they stank.

― tigerclawskank, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:34 (twenty-three years ago)

why did they stink? what made them bad?

the Glastonbury performance was arguably decent....rewinding 'Superstylin' was a horrible idea but it was great to hear the old 'Back To My Roots' piano riff again...i was just impressed by the live brass and drums if nothing else

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 11:39 (twenty-three years ago)

'fogma' the one that samples 'bam bam' by sister nacy.
that's their only great track.
'i see you baby' that was okay.

― piscesboy, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 14:27 (twenty-three years ago)

no! that was gratuitous misuse of the sister nancy sample

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 14:28 (twenty-three years ago)

It might be a horribly purist thing to say, but I think they stink cos they take stylistic quirks of popular subgenres and combine them together in a very pedestrian dance music structure without any of the deeper elements of the music they admire surviving the process. Hence the abortion that is 'superstylin'.

― Jacob, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 14:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Groove Armada is like baseball. You don't really have to pay attention cause there's not too much happening but every now and again you get up and do a little dance.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 20:05 (twenty-three years ago)

(oh and "If Everybody Looked the Same" kicks pants out of Superstylin, I never understood why people like SS so much)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 20:25 (twenty-three years ago)

cos Superstylin has a nice bassline - NICE i tells ya

i feel like a clod for not knowin this Sister Nancy thing altho that hook on 'Fogma' did seem vaguely familiar

Jacob your criticism of GA is valid...but with so much worse dance music out there i can certainly forgive them cos at least they've got 'something' in there - borrowed or not

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Cheers all! Especially thanks to Michael for his they're the basement jaxx that jamie oliver would like comment - too accurate fella!

Just to fill y'all in, went to a playback for the new album Lovebox last night, and it's...well, it's alright. New single "Purple Haze" (no, not that one) has large guitars and rapping about filterless Camels and 'shrooms, and at least the album heralds the triumphant(ish) return of Neneh Cherry (on "Groove Is On" and "Think Twice"). Richie Havens shows up again on "Hands Of Time", which is nice in a Gaye-ish ballady kinda way, and Sunshine Anderson (why do I know that name?) sings on big disco-house filtered Kyliething "Easy".

I can't escape the feeling of...politeness all over it tho. All very middle class, dance music for people who only go to 2 gigs a year? Hmmm.

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:43 (twenty-three years ago)

I also like "Superstylin"! Though if GA were as pick-and-mix anti-purist as some here are suggesting they'd be a lot more interesting more often.

"I See You Baby" is horrendous but I still danced to it at Glastonbury.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:48 (twenty-three years ago)

hahaha...sounds right up my suburban crescent...i dont think i've been to even 2 gigs this year - unless Glasto counts

on the other hand i dont own any Groove Armada and stuff like 'My Friend' IS quite tedious...but then so is Zero 7's 'Destiny' but they still made some great stuff

oh but 'I See You baby' IS about as good as Bangalter's 'Gym Tonic' - meaning quite good

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:51 (twenty-three years ago)

So, let's go to work - questions, questions...

I'm definitely taking them (er, him - I got Andy Cato, the veryvery tall one) to task about the whole chill-out supersaturation thing, and about shamelessly nicking Hendrix song titles to indicate new "rockier" direction, but what else? Thoughts, STAT!

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:52 (twenty-three years ago)

thoughts: I heard a rock-y chill-out supersaturated versh of "Brown Sugar" last night and it was phemonenal. I doubt it was Groove Armada though.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Not the homonymic "Brown Sugar" by Akasha was it?

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 1 October 2002 21:58 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

And here, in case anybody gives a shit, is the resulting feature/interview thing: http://www.threedworld.com.au/feature_629/feature_groove.htm

The webmaster cocked up the formatting for some reason, but anyway. Cheers all, and bonus points for spotting the ILMisms!

― Charlie (Charlie), Friday, 8 November 2002 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

oop it was "Jumpin Jack Flash" i think actually, Charlie, on some high-profile mix CD or other.

Good article, it was good hearing it in their words.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 8 November 2002 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

where's the jamie oliver reference? i hurt my eyes looking for that. ;)

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 8 November 2002 10:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Superstylin' is an amazing track, Andy Cato is a good DJ and seems like a really nice guy. That's about it.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 8 November 2002 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone rate their first album 'Northern Star'?

― blueski, Friday, 8 November 2002 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Andy Cato played a fucking great set here last night.

― Michael B, Saturday, 15 February 2003 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw him in the summer and he was fantastic too, even though he only had about 13 records (no exaggeration by any means), he played Love Story 3 times before anyone knew it, Superstylin' twice, At Night twice, it was a lame act I suppose but the crowd went mad. Also he always plays 24 Hours by Agent Sumo.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 15 February 2003 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

stevem should defend patently crap music more often. It suits him.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Thursday, 16 September 2004 00:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Groove Armada, yeah I know.
I love Groove Armada
Groove Armada - At The River
The new Groove Armada record..........THERE I SAID IT.
T/S: Avril Lavigne vs Groove Armada

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 16 September 2004 00:31 (twenty-one years ago)

They inspire some great thread titles.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Thursday, 16 September 2004 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

you know their massive in oztralia. something about them makes sense here. sun, sea, big beat. tis true.

― gallantseagull, Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:13 (twenty-one years ago)

lots of drunken poms with their shirts off.

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

and hankys on their heads.

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the big red sticked that came with the I See You Baby single sealed it, more than anything.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:27 (twenty-one years ago)

the big red sticked what?????

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Big red sticker. With the lyrics of the chorus on it that was a perfect size for sticking over your own arse. I think I purchased it just for the sticker.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

haha and did you?

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Shake my arse? Many times. Often with the sticker in place.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:49 (twenty-one years ago)

it was a reusable sticker??!!!

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:52 (twenty-one years ago)

It retained a surprising amount of stickiness once removed. High production values, possibly more so than the single itself.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 16 September 2004 02:53 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

(oh and "If Everybody Looked the Same" kicks pants out of Superstylin, I never understood why people like SS so much)
-- Tracer Hand (tracerhan...), October 1st, 2002 2:25 PM.

are you mad??

― Riot Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 13 January 2005 11:16 (twenty years ago)

five years pass...

New collaboration with Bryan Ferry (hmm).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK-rmdHtiX0

― Blue Fucks Like Ben Nelson (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 17:44 (fifteen years ago)

why would you get Bryan Ferry to do a collaboration then muffle his voice with weird effects?

― richie aprile (rockapads), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 18:30 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGA-EyhY6gg

this remix always reminded me of something Leftfield might have done in the 90s.

― richie aprile (rockapads), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 18:35 (fifteen years ago)

why would you get Bryan Ferry to do a collaboration then muffle his voice with weird effects?

Ask Bryan Ferry, who's been singing like this since 1985.

― Blue Fucks Like Ben Nelson (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 18:44 (fifteen years ago)

IF YOU'RE FOND OF SAND DUNES AND SALTY AIR, QUAINT LITTLE VILLAGES HERE AND THERE...

predates moby's play by a good year or so.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 18:56 (fifteen years ago)

Just to fill y'all in, went to a playback for the new album Lovebox last night, and it's...well, it's alright. New single "Purple Haze" (no, not that one)

I was reading through this thread without checking exactly how old it was when I hit this bit and went "wait, I haven't been listening to the radio THIS recently, have I?!" then saw (7 years ago) in relief. that fairly awful record was flogged (lol Australia) at the time.

― innocent snack attack victim (sic), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 01:29 (fifteen years ago)

predates moby's play by a good year or so.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:56 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

The Armenian Genocide predated the Holocaust by more than two decades.

― Department of Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification (S-), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 01:33 (fifteen years ago)

one month passes...

I <3 this new album a lot. A LOT.

― JimD, Monday, 1 March 2010 14:55 (fifteen years ago)

two months pass...

It's absolutely phenomenal -- basically what I wanted Goldfrapp's Head First to be. I get the feeling there aren't that many people quite so smitten with it, though.

― grimly fiendish, Saturday, 1 May 2010 16:00 (fifteen years ago)

I've really not been a fan of them in the past but this album is really good, very dark in places. It's been the big surprise of the year so far, like Royksopp last year.

― Kitchen Person, Saturday, 1 May 2010 21:00 (fifteen years ago)

four months pass...

basically what I wanted Goldfrapp's Head First to be

Heh. Loving this album a ton, and my thought was that it's what I wanted the second Midnight Juggernauts to be.

― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Monday, 20 September 2010 14:11 (fifteen years ago)

Hmmm, always found them kind of weedy but might have to check this out.

― rhythm fixated member (chap), Monday, 20 September 2010 14:17 (fifteen years ago)

It's getting a crazy amount of love from the strangest places this album. It's like a different band. Cards To Your Heart is genius. Basically it's the album that Simian Mobile Disco should have made after Attack Decay..

― piscesx, Monday, 20 September 2010 15:15 (fifteen years ago)

seven months pass...

Basically, Will Young & Groove Armada, I should hate this but.. I don't.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkLwMFRwkjE

― mmmm, Wednesday, 27 April 2011 07:47 (fourteen years ago)

i still don't "get" superstylin. great bassline but man i do not like the drums. DULL. a song like that needs more interesting percussion.

― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 27 April 2011 09:28 (fourteen years ago)

i mean, if Groove Armada had only listened to me 10 years ago they might have had a massive hit on their hands. and now look at them.

― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 27 April 2011 09:34 (fourteen years ago)

two months pass...

this was a good album, i slept on everything but that 'paper romance' single

song w/ bryan ferry!!

― Gatsby was a success, in the end, wasn't he? (D-40), Sunday, 24 July 2011 22:21 (fourteen years ago)

ok a few weak songs but some jams too

― Gatsby was a success, in the end, wasn't he? (D-40), Sunday, 24 July 2011 22:25 (fourteen years ago)

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