Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) by Groove Armada

I have had Groove Armada's 1999 album, Vertigo, in my collection for over a decade now.  It's one I come back to fairly often.  I've also always liked various songs of theirs I heard from other albums on chillout radio.  After listening to Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub (2002) several times now, I wonder why it took me so long to get a second album of theirs.

An electronic group, Groove Armada is equally adept at both club-thumpers and more downbeat, thoughtful pieces.  They incorporate a number of styles into their highly produced grooves as well, including hip-hop, reggae, R&B, and even some old-time jazz and folksy pop at times.  Moreover, they achieve this without sounding like they are trying too hard or going all over the place, which is hard to do.

Indeed, Nightclub opens with a well-constructed hip-hop work titled "Suntoucher" featuring the respectable underground emcee, Jeru the Damaja (Jeru's also appeared on some of my DJ Cam albums).  Accompanied by a big bass line, dramatic and echoic synthesizers, and horns that sound straight out of Isaac Hayes or Leon Haywood funk tunes, Jeru lays it down with sophisticated lines like "It's the urban organic mic mechanic / Super-human MC powers help me fly around the planet / Touch the microphone device, whole countries get frantic / Saving damsels in distress so young girls don't panic / Putting emcees under pressure till they crack like ceramic / Always thought they could flow but sink like the Titanic / Rhymes rip through your skull like icebergs through the hull."

 Reggae comes next with "Superstylin'."   Festive and with an elastic bass, it's a good follow-up to "Suntoucher," if the production gets a little too spastic at times.  It's also more melodic than you might surmise; don't be surprised if you're caught humming this in your head days later.

"Drifted" is the first downbeat song, and it's a winner.  Ambient, blue, watery, crystalline, and yet with a strong back-beat, it hypnotizes with exquisite production and Beach Boys styled harmonies to make you fade slowly and beautifully away into bliss.

"Little By Little" is more mid-tempo, on the other hand, and more to the basics: straightforward soul.  It would fit well on any early Zero 7 album.  The singer's gravelly voice exhorts us wisely to enjoy the moment rather than rushing through life.

My favorite track is "Fogma."  The slick, electronic dance pace features rubbery, circular grooves and fuzzy, rotating synthesizers.  This is trippy stuff that wouldn't sound out of place on an Underworld album.

"My Friend" is more in the mold of "Little By Little."  Borrowing some lyrics from a Brandy tune, it's more of a direct, feel-good, emotionally uplifting type of sound.

Once more trying downbeat, Groove Armada succeeds yet again with "Lazy Moon."  Synesthetic, calm, and with an outdoorsy, stargazing feel, it will lull you into further pleasantry.

One more hip-hop attempt comes titled "Raisin' the Stakes."  The Prince styled funk groove rocks the house, but emcee Kriminul doesn't keep up, enunciating poorly and missing proper timing as the groove dominates his weak flow, which can't swim with the tide.

Most of the remaining tracks are calmer, but they lack the magic of "Drifted" or "Lazy Moon."  The one exception is "Edge Hill," which is the most epic and moving of anything from this album; along with "Fogma," it's an ultimate highlight, if for entirely different reasons.  It starts out very dark and contemplative, like brooding in a deep forest, but then becomes immensely triumphant and elevated with gorgeous, soaring strings.  It is almost like a religious experience, being lifted out of the darkness and into the light.  It's a shame that doesn't end the experience of Nightclub, actually, but "Join Hands" isn't awful, at least.

In short, despite being perhaps a little long and front-loaded, Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub is a must-purchase for fans of classy and nuanced electronic music no matter if you love the groove or the chill more.  It's every bit as good as Vertigo, if not better.  I have another mainstay in my collection that I am delighted to own.

Recommend this product? Yes