Groove Armada's ninth studio full-length, Edge of the Horizon, trades big beats for mood, transporting listeners to a cool, funky dimension where past crossover hits like "Superstylin'" and "History" make way for nostalgic, synth-based dreamscapes. Along with a team of inspired guests, the English duo creates a world that exists somewhere between Prince and Empire of the Sun. The latter group's Nick Littlemore makes multiple appearances here, returning to the mix a decade after his last collaborations with the pair wound up on 2010's Black Light/White Light. Littlemore's contributions -- the LCD Soundsystem-in-space highlight "Get Out on the Dancefloor" and the persistent pianos-and-synths "Tripwire" -- are some of the more upbeat numbers on Edge, joining other standouts such as the sleek '80s funk of "Don't Give Up" and the slinky sheen of "Talk Talk," which features James Alexander Bright's intergalactic electronic touch. Fans of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories gem "Fragments of Time" will be delighted to see Todd Edwards, who delivers "Lover 4 Now," which sounds like Wham!'s "Everything She Wants" went through a '70s time warp. Altogether, Edge of the Horizon is a pleasing trip through the psychedelic that bridges the vibes of a past era with sharp production, providing a calming comedown to balance the rest of Groove Armada's catalog.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo