SHAZAM

Though Groove Armada's Andy Cato and Tom Findlay have been justly praised for their production talents, the duo's fourth album, Lovebox, takes them down the path of production gloss. The opener, "Purple Haze," features Nappy Roots backed by a restrained guitar grind, while Richie Havens (making a repeat appearance) contributes yet another deeply felt performance on "Hands of Time." "Final Shakedown" rips a page from the Basement Jaxx book, with a swinging, slapping house production and the ragga-tinged vocals of Red Rat. "Madder," the only track on the album performed by a band, rides a groove straight out of the Clash's "Magnificent Seven," with a solid sung-spoken rap by M.A.D. Another track that works well is "Remember," a gradually ascending epic with a sampled Sandy Denny vocal (lifted from Fairport Convention's Unhalfbricking) echoed by the affirmations of the London Community Gospel Choir. ~ John Bush, Rovi