Jungle - Loving in Stereo

Built for dancing in the kitchen, Jungle's Loving in Stereo comes housed in a gatefold sleeve and sounds like a summer that never quite ends.

The London-born project of Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland released its third album in 2021 on their own Caiola Records label, and the timing could not have been better. After a long period of lockdowns, here was a record built for movement, full of strings, breakbeats and falsetto hooks that seemed engineered to coax people back onto the dancefloor. It also brought the very first featured guests to a Jungle album.

Keep Moving sets the tone with a disco swing that feels both retro and brand new, and Talk About It snaps with a tight, irresistible bounce. Romeo brings in American rapper Bas for a breezy verse over shimmering production, while Goodbye My Love, featuring Priya Ragu, slows things to a tender, soulful sway. The duo produced it themselves, layering lush orchestral flourishes over grooves that owe as much to classic soul and funk as to modern electronic music.

It is joyous and endlessly replayable, the kind of album that makes any room feel like a party. It makes a very convincing case for staying up late and dancing until the neighbours complain.