Volcano (Jungle album)

Volcano is the fourth album by British electronic band Jungle, released on 11 August 2023 through Caiola Records and AWAL. It was preceded by the singles "Candle Flame", "Dominoes", "I've Been in Love" and "Back on 74". The album includes collaborations with Erick the Architect, Channel Tres, Roots Manuva, Mood Talk and Bas. The band simultaneously released a full-length film of the same name for members of their fan club. They are touring concert dates in Europe and North America in support of the album throughout 2023, and in Australia in 2024.

Background and recording
The band wrote the album on the tour for their previous album, Loving in Stereo (2021), and began recording it in an Airbnb rental in Los Angeles before returning to Studio B of Metropolis Studios in London. Josh Lloyd called it "the most honest record [the band has] made", also saying: "We've always had this soul side and this love for soul music, so it's always been a little bit more song-based. The new record is just an extension of that journey". Lloyd also stated that Jungle's music is "now getting to this place where it sounds freer, and more off the cuff than it's ever done" and the "energy" on Volcano is "very quick and explosive and not so tame".

Critical reception
Volcano received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Robin Murray of Clash stated that "at times, Jungle's soulful appeal is worth placing alongside Sault, and that's no mean feat", calling it a "focussed, unified return" that "doffs its cap to some supreme influences, while also allowing Jungle to expand, and evolve". Ed Lawson of DIY found it to be "more breezy bops than all-out summer smashes, but nevertheless extremely rich and warm in sound". Reviewing the album for The Line of Best Fit, characterised it as "an eclectic mix of disco, soul and the ever-progressing infusions of hip-hop" that "explor[es] a whole new sphere of genres, eras and musical styles" and "place[s] Jungle at their peak of most progressive yet".

Thomas Smith of NME wrote that "genres, scenes and sounds are whizzed together and go down like a sickly-sweet cocktail at a hazy happy hour in the heights of summer" on the album, but that the duo's "hesitancy" to let their audience know more about them "does something of a disservice to the soul music they worship and lift from here". Mojo stated that the album "continues where 2021's Loving in Stereo left off", and Uncut felt that "the result sees them maintain high energy levels while showing off a richer musical palette and a keener sense of flow".

Track listing
Notes
 * "Dominoes" contains a sample of "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing", written by Ben Raleigh and Dave Linden, and performed by Gloria Ann Taylor.
 * "Don't Play" contains a sample of "Faith Is the Key", written by Larry H. Jordan and performed by Enlightment.

Personnel
Jungle
 * Josh Lloyd – production, mixing, recording (all tracks); vocals (1–8, 10, 13), bass guitar (1, 2, 5–8, 10–14), drum programming (1–4, 6–8, 10–14), synthesisers (1, 2, 4, 7–14), organ (1, 2, 10, 11, 13), guitar (5, 10); drums, keyboards, percussion (5); art direction, design
 * Tom McFarland – additional production (all tracks), vocals (1, 6), synthesisers (1, 6, 10), organ (1, 10), bells (6), guitar (14)

Additional musicians
 * Lydia Kitto – vocals (all tracks), flute (1, 8, 11, 12), bass guitar (2, 3), synthesisers (2, 6, 11–13), organ (2, 11, 13), live drums (2), guitar (3, 6, 11–13), percussion (5, 12), keyboards (5), piano (14)
 * Will Fry – congas, extra percussion (1, 10, 13)
 * Declan Lennon – bass guitar, synthesisers, organ (2)
 * Erick the Architect – vocals (3)
 * Channel Tres – vocals (5)
 * Roots Manuva – vocals (7)
 * Rosie Danvers – string arrangement (11)
 * Wired Strings – strings (11)
 * Jnr Williams – vocals (12)
 * Bas – vocals (14)

Technical
 * Mood Talk – production (9)
 * Lydia Kitto – additional production
 * Matt Colton – mastering
 * Harpaal Sanghera – engineering assistance
 * Tucan – mixing (1, 11)

Visuals
 * James Moruzzi – design, font, logo design