Groove Armadas ninth studio full-length, Edge of the Horizon, trades big beats for mood, transporting listeners to a cool, funky dimension where past crossover hits like Superstylin and History make way for nostalgic, synth-based dreamscapes. Along with a team of inspired guests, the English duo create a world that exists somewhere between Prince and Empire of the Sun. The latter groups Nick Littlemore makes multiple appearances here, returning to the mix a decade after his last collaborations with the pair wound up on 2010s Black Light/White Light. Littlemores contributions -- the LCD Soundsystem-in-space highlight Get Out on the Dancefloor and the persistent pianos-and-synths Tripwire -- are some of the more upbeat numbers on Edge, joining other standouts such as the sleek 80s funk of Dont Give Up and the slinky sheen of Talk Talk, which features James Alexander Brights intergalactic electronic touch. Fans of Daft Punks Random Access Memories gem Fragments of Time will be delighted to see Todd Edwards, who delivers Lover 4 Now, which sounds like Wham!s Everything She Wants went through a 70s time warp. Altogether, Edge of the Horizon is a pleasing trip through the psychedelic that bridges the vibes of a past era with sharp production, providing a calming comedown to balance the rest of Groove Armadas catalog. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Rovi