ZapTown

Groove Junkies
Late Night With The Groove Junkies
2007 – Swank

Origin: Los Angeles, California
Style: Electronic

The Groove Junkies made a name for themselves on the Om Summer Sessions, showing that they can be distinguished DJs that capture the essence and sounds of the West Coast from the glitz to the streets.

That posterity got them a slot on the third installment of Swank’s Late Night series. Unfortunately, it did not prove so well as critiques like In The Mix said that they “have missed the target on this mix unfortunately.” (http://www.inthemix.com.au/music/32566/Various_Artists_Late_Night_With_Groove_Junkies). Popmatters contemplates that “the L.A.-based duo gives us nothing that really stands out.” (http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/various-artists-late-night-with-groove-junkies/).

Despite the negative critical outlook about this album, Late Night is not a throw away, as it is more confusing with the terminology of the album title in relation to the correlation of downtempo. This is not downtempo. This is pure disco and soul mixes within a house framework. And even though the album does not move into extreme levels of electronic thrills and the gospel aspect of the mix seems excessive towards the end, there are some stand outs while the concept of the album co-exists nicely with flawless transitions.

With Mr. V (http://www.myspace.com/djmrv) at the front end, the album begins like a tribal dance. Not really V’s more noticeable numbers in his repertoire, it’s a nice intro that sets the mood for an unfortunately brief mix of Dennis Ferrer’s (http://www.myspace.com/dennisferrer) “Transition” that further goes into an even more unfortunate house thumper “Think Positive” by Mistura. It may be a build up that opens the door for the rest of the album, but it’s a door that takes way too long to open.

Here we finally get into the meat of the mix as the Groove Junkies spice up TC Moses’ “Free Your Mind” that blends glitz, silky disco sounds, and bumping house beats together. Now we finally have a dance album and a style that dips into ‘80s pop music culture. And that brings us to the stand out of the album and Ce Ce Peniston, who is best known for the song “Finally.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxrWRN0aq2c) The Ron Carroll mix of “I’m Feeling U” really takes the album to the height of what the Groove Junkies can do here.

Ce Ce Peniston – “I’m Feelin’ U” (Ron Carroll Mix) YouTube

They continue with their own workings that keep their high glossed starry night sound linear. And as the duo stair steps their way toward the end from disco to soul to electro house, Darren Glen’s “You Gotta Have Hope” sounds like Scumfrog mixing up something from The Orb’s The Dream as the Groove Junkies leave us with a spiritual combination of gospel and dance culture, along with a heavy dose of positivity that seemed to be the central theme of this release.

Cross-Reference: Scumfrog, Roger Sanchez, Ce Ce Peniston