More about: Jungle

Following the massive success of Jungle’s previous chart-topping albums, the leaders of the contemporary funk revolution have returned to grace eager listeners with another collection of infectiously brilliant floor fillers.

For years the modern music industry was sparse with artists that went against the grain sonically to create a generation of new sounds and genres…until 2013 when the incredible talents of musicians and producers Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland came together to create the electronic music project Jungle. Flash forward to August this year, and the band is no stranger to dominating the charts with their magnificent discography - their new record Loving In Stereo is no exception. Armed with the groovy disco beats of the 70s, electrifying orchestral sections, and a hint of music experimentalism, this spell-binding effort from the London based duo is nothing short of spectacular.

As niche as the disco funk and neo-soul genres may seem, they are slowly dominating the airwaves as new talents such as Parcels, SAULT, Leon Bridges and Anderson Paak continue to release fresh beats to satisfy the hunger of excited listeners. Pioneers of funk, Jungle bring musical flamboyancy to the table throughout their latest release with tracks such as ‘Keep Moving’, ‘All Of The Time’ and ‘Can’t Stop The Stars’, proving that no one does modern disco quite like the British duo. Rhythmic intricacy and precision are key to creating seamless funk tracks and it goes without saying that Lloyd-Watson and McFarland are experts in the matter concerning these three fantastically funky numbers. If ‘Keep Moving’ doesn’t make listeners want to boogey down onto the dancefloor and literally keep moving, what will?

One of the most prevalent features on ‘Loving In Stereo’ is the use of collaborations on various tracks, for instance the single ‘Romeo’ which features the renowned rapper Bas. The first featured artist to perform on a Jungle song, this bouncy number encapsulates the feeling of swaggering through the city on a hot day with its sub-woofer bassline and use of intriguing samples thrown into the mix.

The duo also enlisted the production genius of SAULT producer Inflo, and it is almost impossible not to notice his influence on Jungle’s sound especially within songs such as ‘Talk About It’, ‘Fire’ and ‘What D’You Know About Me’. Hard-hitting and driven by bold percussive beats, ‘Talk About It’ is SAULT to a T, but still utilises the same iconic musical elements of Jungle’s material with choral falsetto voicing and an irresistible groove. A personal favourite, the bassline in the track ‘Fire’ is fuelled with grit and unleashes a heavier and dirtier angle for the duo’s sound, something they should explore further in the future.

In the age of COVID, many musicians saw quarantine as a time to question the direction of their artistry, and in Jungle’s case the proof is in the pudding regarding the creation of songs such as ‘Lifting You’, ‘Just Fly Don’t Worry’, ‘Truth’ and ‘No Rules’. A band that defies the sonic expectations of their listeners and that loves to experiment with the boundaries of their sound, this record has allowed the duo to explore avenues of music that they once never sought possible.

For instance, whilst ‘Lifting You’ and ‘Just Fly Don’t Worry’ are both more nonchalant in nature and explore the use of spacey synths and imaginative bass lines to thicken each songs’ texture, ‘Truth’ and ‘No Rules’ are a step in a completely alternate reality for Jungle. ‘Truth’ fuses post-punk energy and motoric rhythms with synth lines that will transport listeners back to the 80s, whereas ‘No Rules’ functions as an electronic interlude embellished with discombobulating synth ideas. Nonetheless, broadening their musical horizons has certainly paid off for the band.

Expanding on the musical textures of their previous records, it is impossible to not be awe-struck by the instrumental arrangements that have been crafted for ‘Loving In Stereo’, and listeners should look no further than the first track on the album ‘Dry Your Tears’. Functioning as a prologue for album’s journey, the piece is carried by a soaring, sultry string section that reappears in other songs throughout the album, followed by a glorious choral section towards the middle of the track.

Whilst the song ‘Bonnie Hill’ features the same stunning string section, it also employs the use of a surprise jazz flute and virtuosic saxophone towards its end; the three instruments intertwine beautifully, creating an oasis of exciting new sounds. Moreover, though the penultimate track on the album ‘Goodbye My Love’ may have been written in only an hour, something must be said about the impeccable vocal talent of featuring artist Priya Ragu, taking on similar sounds as that of Moon Child and Ms. Lauryn Hill. Ragu’s sensational vocals against an iconic Jungle hip-hop beat celebrate the advancements in the band’s musical talent perfectly as the duo continue to create ever-growing, remarkable audible landscapes for their listeners.

Jungle’s sound is without a doubt the future of modern music.

Loving In Stereo is out now.

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More about: Jungle