Jungle

Audio Mixer: David Wrench.Photographer: Oliver Hadlee Pearch.The lead-up to U.K. indie/neo-funk act Jungle's self-titled debut album was one of highly calculated mystery. The band came out of the ether first in the form of several videos featuring mostly dancers but no bandmembers. Stills from these videos were subsequently used as press photos and the membership of the band was kept almost entirely anonymous. The public was informed only that the band's core centered around collaborative efforts by two producers known simply as "J" and "T." Underneath these layers of intrigue and obscurity were several singles of immensely atmospheric neo-soul, floating and haunted falsetto vocals riding rhythmic waves made up of greasy throwback basslines, vintage drum machine clicks, and understated samples, all skillfully arranged into a perfect pop package. Leadoff track "The Heat" is one of the best examples of this formula, with the song's various hooks glued together with barely audible samples