Groove Armada Gets Back in Touch With Its DJ Side

While English electronic duo Groove Armada did release a mix CD between its last two original releases, “Vertigo” and the recent “Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub,” few think of Tom Findlay and Andy Cato as DJs. The pair has made its reputation instead with the stylish grooves that have become the Groove Armada signature.

But on Monday at the club 1650 (formerly Vynyl), Findlay and Cato got to show a different side of Groove Armada as they put on their dancing shoes during an extended DJ set.

Their long hiatus from that role was apparent, as they were unable to establish a flow for much of the set. While the song selection--which included a number of diva-fronted disco/house tracks mixed in with some rousing build-ups founded on Caribbean bongos and bells--kept the crowd dancing, the two dominant sounds never successfully merged. Much of the problem stemmed from the pair’s inability to follow on those builds. Several times, they had the opportunity to take the room to the next level, but they pulled back just enough to lose their momentum.

In spite of those deficiencies, though, the set worked because it accomplished its main purpose. Those who packed into 1650 not only got to put faces to Groove Armada’s detached cool, but they also got to see the men responsible for the sound get down and dirty.

Steve Baltin