Jungle - Volcano
Electronic – Released August 11, 2023 – 14 songs, 44 mins
REID
Ain’t no love in the Jungle . . . (imagine that collab).
Two years and sixty-nine Too Sweet Reviews ago, Jungle entered our lives with Loving In Stereo (2021). The British electronic duo wowed from the get-go, so much so that I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when that amazing one-two punch of Dry Your Tears and Keep Moving woke me up from the rap-battle-induced-funk I was in. The album landed on all three of our top five album lists for 2021 and lives on in my playlist. Music in 2023 for me has failed to live up to previous years so to say I was excited to see a new release from them on the horizon would be an understatement. And boy, I was not disappointed.
Volcano instantly made me feel like I was shot out of a cannon. Just like Stereo, the first song grabbed me by the proverbial hand and dragged me out on the dance floor for three and a half minutes of pure, unadulterated fun. Us Against The World combines a conglomerate of sounds highlighted by the intoxicating basslines, sweet synth and a flute leaving you with an earworm to remember. But not for long, as the thunderous bass from Holding On took hold and with shades of Nelly Furtado’s Maneater, it’s impossible to sit still. Jungle sure knows how to get things started.
The beat goes on from here as Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland repeatedly flex their ultra impressive musical talent with continuous hooks. The first half of this record is incredible. On the second run through I was texting friends urging them to listen to share my enthusiasm. The shear infusion of pace and energy is stimulating and their strategically placed lulls and transitions add power to the build ups. Every listen you pick out something new and when you take a second to think of these two men producing all of it themselves, it makes it that much more spectacular.
I went this far without mentioning Lydia Kitto and that’s long enough. The multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter is along for the full ride on Volcano after multiple appearances on the last record. The most probable reason for that is they wrote the album while touring their previous. I mean that… and she rules. Her voice compliments JLW and TM’s sound so well as it serves as lead, backup or in some cases just another instrument in the array of sounds produced to get to the finished product. The addition of rappers Erick the Architect, Channel Tres and Bas is a satisfying break from the high pitch, levelling things out nicely along the way.
Is the album flawless? Nah. The back half has a couple songs that could disappear without being missed and would effectively trim the runtime, making it that much better. But when you have songs like the first two, combined with Candle Flame, Back on 74, Every Night, Problemz and Palm Trees along with a solid selection of feel good second tier tracks, they’re doing just fine.
Jungle’s Volcano is explosive fun and a must listen before the sun sets on summer 2023. The total package performers pick up where they left off on their last record but in a more free and energetic fashion. They’re in select company on my ‘next to see live’ list.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
Favourite Song: Us Against The World
ROZ
These days it’s impossible to fathom the absolute break-neck speed that time has been passing by. Almost two years ago to this day the TSR crew was unanimously salivating over a band that we’ve never heard before, giving it one of our rarer collective high scores. It was also this review that officially put English producer duo Jungle on our radar, and is why the bands fourth studio album Volcano has been long awaited within the TSR circle.
Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, the heart and soul of the Jungle project, began writing Volcano during their tour of their acclaimed previous album Loving in Stereo. While initially digging into Volcano for the first time, it became instantly apparent that the polished, almost picturesque disco sound of their earlier work echoed throughout it as if they were both painted by the same brush. Considering when and where the album was being produced, it makes sense that the duo would not stray from the formula that they were immersed in 24/7 during this time.
Volcano’s separation from its predecessor comes from the album leaning more heavily into the soul aspects of its disco sound, opting to leave more room on the album for slower paced performances and more intimate arrangements. Standout tracks in the vein consist of Dominoes, Problemz and Good At Breaking Hearts, with the latter displaying a stellar performance by newcomer JNR WILLIAMS. With that being said the record still includes higher energy, up-tempo beats such as Up Against The World, its bass guitar serving as the focal point of the groove, juxtaposing the disco era aesthetic with Lydia Kitto’s fuzzy distorted vocals. Without the album wasting a second, her infectious performance is once again layered over Holding On, a catchy dance track that uses vocal harmonizations, sizzling high hats and lightning quick drum fills to break apart the sustain of heavy sub-bass and punch of the club-style kick drum patterns. Of all the songs on Volcano, this is the one that I simply could not turn off.
As has been the case in the past, it is the mixture of genres and backgrounds that really makes Jungle’s albums stand out above the rest. Talented hip hop artists are incorporated into the duo’s sound once again as new arrivals Chanel Tres (I’ve Been In Love) and Erick the Architect (Candle Flame) join alongside Loving In Stereo alumni Bas (Pretty Little Thing). A similar style to Canadian producer Kaytranada is heard on the drum-heavy, sample-contorting track Don’t Play, which of all the songs on Volcano shows off some of the trickiest production techniques used by the duo. The only instance on the album where I felt that the production choices were questionable was during Every Night, a song which turns Kitto’s creatively styled vocal into a more jarring listening experience. With 14 songs on the listing, they could have opted to tighten it up and leave this one on the chopping block.
In my review of Loving In Stereo I make the apt description of Jungles overall sound, where “the music itself makes you feel as though you have the windows down in your car as you drive through a big city on a warm night” – this sentiment is just as strong now as it was then. The bands followed formula leads you to a fun, energetic listening experience and further cements the “Jungle sound” that they have curated throughout their years as artists. Once again Jungle delivers an exceptional hybrid of disco, pop, electronic and rap – a true melting pot of ear-pleasing, easy-going tunes that are sure to brighten anyone’s day. Will their formula feel as fresh on future releases? I guess we’ll find out once that time comes.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Favourite Song: Holding On
LUNDI
For the first time in TSR history I sit here to write a review for a band that once achieved what so few have, a place in the year end Lundi Top 5 Album list. In 2021 the complete unknown electronic producing duo known as Jungle took TSR by storm with their immersive and eclectic record Loving in Stereo. Just slightly less than two years later the twosome are back with their fourth studio album Volcano.
On the follow up effort everything about the musical talent of Jungle remains as impressive. The do it all musician-producer-engineer’s are unmatched with their trio of pure musical expertise. With countless albums on the TSR docket that have laundry lists of contributing writers and producers, Jungle are a breath of fresh air in the music industry.
Volcano doesn’t stray too far from the Jungle concept. The mash of disco, soul, and hip hop comes together for a collection of upbeat, rich, and immersive soundscapes. But unfortunately therein lies the problem. While the basic concepts of every song are electric they are overly repetitive in comparison to one another. The moments of surprise and pivot are nowhere to be found. It flows together to the point it ultimately feels like a summer mashup designed to track a party than an album filled with distinct ideas and thoughts. Volcano is laid back to a fault.
There are moments of excellence particularly at the start with Up Against the World and Holding On but the noted repetitiveness quickly wears thin on the listener. They utilize the female high toned vocal too often and the hip hop verses fail to land or add flare. It’s hard to find an angle where this is a step forward for Jungle with many factors lacking in comparison. That’s not exactly that bad considering the highs of the previous record but if we continue to laud them for their do it all two man team mindset then it’s fair to critique them for not exactly being able to elevate further. Maybe another voice or two in the room could open some doors.
I’ll end on this. A truly great album has a curated track list where every song has a purpose in the moment. Whether it be thematic or energy related, it’s carefully chosen for a reason. If you shuffled Volcano would you even notice a difference? I wouldn’t, and ultimately that’s a summation of its downfall.
Jungle are far from lacklustre on Volcano but they never truely find the progressive and distinctive ideas that elevated Loving in Stereo. This time around the duo give the listener a smooth laid back summer mix tape rather than a career defining album of the year. It’s not bad, but I can’t help but feel disappointed.
Overall Rating: 7.3/10
Favourite Song: Holding On