I didn’t realize how much I missed hearing Neneh Cherry’s unique voice until I heard her sing on the grooving ‘Groove Is On’ and the thought-provoking ‘Think Twice’ on Groove Armada’s new disc Lovebox (Jive Electro). So, I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to Tom Findlay and Andy Cato of Groove Armada for asking Cherry to sing on their exciting and varied new CD. That’s the late British folk icon Sandy Denny sampled on the warm chill-out track ‘Remember,’ and Tom and Andy do things with electric guitars that would make Jimi Hendrix grin on ‘Madder’ and ‘Purple Haze.’ Red Rat provides the vocals for the dancehall dance fever of ‘The Final Shakedown’ which has the potential to shake things up. Macy Gray protégé Sunshine Anderson goes full-fledged disco diva on the radiant ‘Easy.’ An effortless blend of styles, Lovebox thinks and plays outside of the box, especially on the soulful ‘Hands Of Time,’ with vocals by Richie Havens and the funk-rock of ‘Tuning In’ with vocals by Tim Hutton. The dance party atmosphere continues until the conclusion of the disc, with back to back rhythmic numbers ‘Lovebox’ and ‘But I Feel Good.’ What are you waiting for? Get your Groove Armada on before it’s too late.
The third installment in the Pet Shop Boys’ Disco series (the first of which was released in 1986, with the second following in 1994), Disco 3 (Sanctuary) diverts from the formula a bit by including new songs, some of which were recorded at the same time that Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe recorded their less dance-oriented 2002 album Release. In keeping with title of the EP, a majority of the tracks are dance-floor bound, beginning with ‘Time On My Hands,’ which was created in 2000, but only recently readied for recording. Barry White’s inspiration, and perhaps some of his perspiration, is the basis for the ‘string’ sample that opens ‘Positive Role Model’ and then recurs at the song’s chewy center. Both the Giorgio Moroder infused Bobby O track ‘Try It (I’m In Love With A Married Man)’ and Thee Radika Blaklite Edit of ‘London’ (from Release) swell with a vintage Donna Summer beat and heat. ‘If Look Could Kill’ sounds like Pet Shop Boys’ entry in the electroclash category and the Superchumbo Mix of ‘Sexy Northerner’ is, well, super sexy. ‘Home And Dry,’ the touching first single from Release is present in a souped-up Blank & Jones Mix, and Disco 3 closes on a slow-dance note with the gorgeous Genuine Piano Mix of ‘London.’