British electronic duo Groove Armada have just completed work on their new album, Love Box, due this fall on Jive. Tom Findlay and Andy Cato recruited guests Sunshine Anderson, Nappy Roots, Criminal from New York hip-hop outfit Jig Masters, folk-rock legend Richie Havens (who appeared on their last effort, Good Bye Country, Hello Nightclub) and Neneh Cherry for their fourth album.

"She's a wonderful person," Findlay said of Cherry during the Axe Effect party in Ibiza, Spain this past weekend. "We met at a nightclub through a friend of a friend."

After recording their last effort, last year's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub), in the English countryside, Groove Armada said they decided to lay down the twelve tracks for Love Box -- including "Tuning In," "The Final Shakedown," "But I Feel Good," "Madder," "Think Twice" and "Remember Me" -- in London. Some of the tracks include samples from Seventies British rockers Status Quo and Eddie Grant's song, "California Style."

"It's quite a rock & roll record," Cato said. "It's quite guitar-y. More Saturday night than [a night on the] sofa."

Groove Armada plan to bring a full band -- including a host of horn players -- on next year's U.S. tour.

JOLIE LASH
(August 12, 2002)