ALBUM REVIEW: ‘2 In2 The Groove’ by Boom Boom

Released 24th July 2020

One of the joys of being sent albums to review on a semi-regular basis is that sometimes you have your attention drawn to a release you wouldn’t otherwise have heard - and it takes you by surprise in the best way possible.

‘2 In2 The Groove’ is one of those albums. It was possibly the band name (‘Boom Boom’) that threw me; the onomatopoeia gave the immediate impression that the artist was either one who took themselves too seriously, or one who didn’t take themselves seriously enough.

On doing some more reading, however, I discovered the reason for this: Boom Boom are in fact a figment of the imagination. Of two imaginations, in fact - that of Paul Fishman (formerly of 80s band Re-Flex) and Dave Harris, who devised Boom Boom as a virtual P-Funk band to perform some songs they’d written that had ‘big choruses that you can dance to’.

And my god, do these tracks pack some big choruses. Overtly Prince-inspired (the duo have previously written a track for an artist on Prince’s label, and remixed tracks for the Purple One’s Paisley Park studio), every one seems catchier and funkier than the last. There are echoes of other funk-inspired artists of the 70s and 80s too, including Cameo, Level 42, The Blow Monkeys and Curiosity Killed The Cat, but ultimately (as the songwriters themselves claim), this is an album that will primarily appeal to ‘Motown enthusiasts, funk lovers, and fans of Prince’.

Highlights include the album’s infectious title track (which slinks and grooves its way along for nearly five minutes, but still doesn’t feel like it’s long enough), as well as the upbeat ‘One Step’ and ‘She Said’, and the slightly sultrier ‘Everything She Wants’ - but honestly if you picked out any of the thirteen songs here, it wouldn’t be difficult to find something good to say, or at least a part you can really dance to.

Lyrically, admittedly, none of the tracks are particularly profound - but they were, I somehow feel that the album wouldn’t be quite as enjoyable. Who wants to ponder the meaning of life when there’s dancing to be done and party outfits to don?

All in all, this is a fantastic album - and something of a rarity in that it delivers what the lead single promises and so much more.

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You can watch the music video for ‘2 In2 The Groove’ via this link: https://youtu.be/TUSyuoJXFA0

For more information please visit: https://www.paulfishman.co.uk