Released: August 11
Having simmered their way up the charts to a new peak of No. 3 with their most recent album, 2021’s ‘Loving In Stereo’, UK duo Jungle embrace a more global sound on their much-anticipated follow-up, ‘Volcano’.
Produced by the London-based act, starring Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, their fourth record showcases the pair’s innovative and forward-thinking production, from intricate and complex beats to soaring synths and soulful melodies, for a body of work that’s current yet innately timeless.
Opener Us Against The World is instantly indicative of their style, one of 14 bursts of funk-laced, disco-influenced joy across the set, which includes collaborations with the likes of Roots Manuva, Erick the Architect, Channel Tres and Bas.
Tres’ track, I’ve Been In Love, is an immediate standout, along with Candle Flame, which juxtaposes ‘70s vibes with Erick’s ‘90s-esque hip-hop.
“We wanted to create a song that was both personal and relatable, exploring the highs and lows of love and relationships in a way that was both poetic and authentic,” they say of the latter track, which “represents everything we stand for as a band”.
The palate of genres they explore across the record is exemplary; from the passionate soul of Dominoes to the Latin shuffle of Every Night, ‘Volcanoes’ touches on multiple influences that converge to form the Jungle sound.
It’s a commitment that’s not only helped them climb the charts but one that, across their latest offering, is comparable to electronic peers Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx, their influence shining through on the one hand, while Josh and Tom’s own interpretations also present exciting new avenues.
A pioneering 21st century act, alongside Jungle’s music are visuals that are perhaps their most ambitious yet, featuring their signature choreography while exploring the universe they have created up to this point, the fate of which unfurls with each release and brings their world to life in new ways.
At 14 songs clocking in largely under three minutes, ‘Volcano’ is unlike most records of its kind; shunning extended, meandering tracks in favour of short, sharp bursts of energy, Jungle navigate a spectrum of sounds with skill and push their creativity forward like never before.
