“Right on time/ Back by the beach/ Still gonna bring the heat” is how enigmatic British collective, Jungle begin their debut album. And it’s the perfect foreshadowing for what is an album that continuously brings the heat. Jungle have been stirring up serious hype with their brand of disco-tinged funk, so what better way to groove right on into the weekend than to spin this baby.
We locked ourselves in, took away phones and attempted to keep ourselves cool against the flurry of heat that wafts from this record. Stream the album and play along at home. Just be warned this one contains sex with guns, Grand Theft Auto references and Venice Beach cruisin’.
The Heat
Bianca: Great start to the album. I usually hate police sirens when I’m driving because I feel like I’m being chased after but this time I’ll make an exception.
Hannah: This is the perfect cruising down Venice beach- police sirens, a little bit of ‘80s grime to it.
Lizzie: Yeah, watching the world go past, all the little scenarios.
Bianca: So GTA.
Lizzie: Yeahhhhhh, it’s got a soundtrack quality.
Sam: Perfect start to the album- “right on time, back by the beach…”
Accelerate
Sam: What d’ya think bitches?
Lizzie: It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Bianca: Lovin’ the chimes.
Lizzie: Yeah, lots of surprises.
Hannah: It’s got a kind of Aloe Blacc quality to the voice that then errs onto disco
Sam: The verses just creep. Creep on up thurrrr….
Bianca: I just feel like I’m playing a game. It’s definitely the soundtrack to my life. Life is a game guys. It’s kind of rainbow road-y
Lizzie: And we’re still cruisin’. Still in the car.
Sam: It’s not cruisy in the way it floats over you.
Hannah: Yeah, you’ve got your hands out the window doing waves in the air
Lizzie: We’ve got one of those….what is it? Take the roof off…
Bianca: Convertible.
Busy Earnin’
Bianca: I do not regret putting this as number one in our Top 20 of 2014 so far…
Sam: Me neither. I’m very content with the fact I feel like someone’s in a leather jacket with a baseball in their hand coming for me to beat me
Bianca: It’s all very evocative isn’t it
Sam: I think that’s the point with jungle. They’re very…
Lizzie: Cinematic
Sam: They’re one of those band whose video clips need to be there
Platoon
Lizzie: This is my favourite. They have lots going on but it’s a perfect mix. It’s new sounds. You’re questioning what those sounds are
Sam: I’m the opposite it’s my least favourite
Hannah: Yeah
Sam: It’s not dynamic enough
Hannah: It’s a nice track for approaching the middle of an album. You’re already hooked, you can just cruise on through
Lizzie: If the next song is not good then…
Bianca: Wait, you said it was your favourite song?
Hannah: Yeah, but there’s provisions around that obviously
Sam: It’s not unconditional
Drops
Bianca: I love the door creak samples
Hannah: It’s like Bon Iver but…
Bianca: …with a gun
Sam: I’m thinking American Hustle now. It’s something really sweet with something dangerous
Bianca: Having sex with a gun on your bedside table
Sam: I love this one. It creeps in a subtle way
Bianca: This is a creep. In a good way
Time
Sam: Love it love it love it love it love it
Lizzie: I just creamed my pants
Bianca: What?!
Sam: Why do we love it so? Like all of their songs, there is almost no dynamic, it flat-lines but they have this “we’re going on a bear-hunt” creep
Bianca: His voice stays at the same level but I’m ok with that
Hannah: I haven’t stopped nodding my head the whole time
Julia
Hannah: It’s definitely changed the tone
Sam: Julia has been a bad bad girl because this beat is dirty
Hannah: We’re no longer cruisin’. We’re not happy with Julia
Lizzie: More random sounds
Sam: It’s so textured. It’s yummy
Bianca: It’s not my favourite
Sam: Why?
Bianca: Because I just hate Julia. No, I don’t know actually. I love it of course, it’s just a bit pleady
Crumbler
Sam: This one’s neither here nor there for me
Lizzie: I was worried at the start but I think they redeemed themselves- sirens!
Sam: It’s funky. I think it’s something that grows on you
Bianca: This is the police chase in GTA. This is when I’m jumping out of the car and singing
Sam: It’s a bit Starsky and Hutch even
Son Of A Gun
Hannah: Venice Beach. Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet
Sam: It’s so interesting all the visual references that are coming out
Lizzie: It blends in but I’m not sure about it
Sam: I love it
Hannah: I think the second half of the album is already noticeable different to the first
Sam: This song’s the first one on the album that we’ve all been silent through the whole time because it’s interesting and there’s many different levels
Bianca: Does anyone know what he’s saying
All: Nup
Lizzie: I just got taken away by the whole sound
Lucky I Get What I Want
Bianca: This song has so many elements to it. I love the break-down when shit gets real
Sam: Shit gets real so many times on this album. This song is just so brilliant. It’s so melodically perfect
Hannah: Yeah. This one’s a winner
Lizzie: Damn, so smooth.
Lemonade Lake
Bianca: I love that this song actually sounds like a Lemonade Lake. It’s bubbly…
Hannah: Candy, Willy Wonka land
Lizzie: Euphoric
Sam: What an end
Hannah: I feel like that was a journey guys. We’ve been on a journey. We’ve killed some people, we’ve been in and out of gang wars and I’m walking away happy
Most Memorable Song
Bianca: Lemonade Lake
Sam: Lucky I Get What I Want and Accelerate
Lizzie: I love Time. I’ve always loved Time. And Lemonade Lake is the nicest surprise
Hannah: I like Lemonade Lake as the close to the album more than on its own
Overall
Bianca: Can I give it a 10?
Lizzie: I’m going with 9.5
Sam: I’m going to say 8. 8 is a solid number and that’s what it is a solid album. I’m not going to listen to it and be like wow wow wow. The whole How To Dress Well album was full of wow moments, this is just solid.
Bianca: Can I give a 9.5, maybe?
Hannah: I’m gonna give it an 8
