Groove Armada: Back To Mine : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The challenge in making a mix CD is to sustain the mood -- or else watch it slip away like an eight-game lead in a September pennant race. Fortunately, the English duo Groove Armada have an exceptional record collection to draw from on Back to Mine. The goal here is not dance-floor frenzy: Back to Mine is a bleary-eyed chill-out soundtrack, full of mellow beats and classic soul. Beginning with the second song, Barry White's "Playing Your Game Baby," the album glides along effortlessly through the disco world (Dayton's "Sound of Music"), slo-mo hip-hop (Roots Manuva's "Next Type of Motion") and down-tempo house (Schmoov's "Destination" and "Chaser" from Tall Stories). It closes out with the blissfully ambient "Pharaohs" from Tears for Fears (yes, Tears for Fears), a strangely appropriate capper to a record that succeeds in making the come-down from a night of dancing a little less painful. (RS 852)

MATT HENDRICKSON