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The elusive Jungle quietly dropped their debut album Jungle in 2014 with hits such as ‘The Heat’ and ‘Busy Earnin’. Over four years later, they’ve returned with a bang and the heavily anticipated release of their sophomore album, titled For Ever. Their neo-funk and soul genre struck a chord back in 2014 when they were nominated for BBC Sound of the Year and were featured on TV shows including Brooklyn Nine-Nine and on the playlist for FIFA 15. Whilst gaining traction, they remained enigmatic and practically faceless, placing more focus on the music they were creating and the visuals of their music videos than on the band as individuals.

This elusiveness also adds another dimension to their music. When you search for Jungle online, their Wikipedia page gives only the bones of their music career. They struck gold in how they handled themselves and are now known in musical spheres as a tough act to follow. Chvrches, a Scottish synth band, were once heard saying before a gig in LA that they were “glad [they] didn’t have to follow” Jungle. It’s worth checking out their performance of ‘Busy Earnin’ on Later with Jools Holland to see the electric energy they are known to emit.

Jungle have called For Ever a “cathartic” album, one in which they found themselves putting their hearts into every song. The love and difficulties of love are summed up in 13 tracks, each another plot point in their story of change. This collective has kept it’s cool with For Ever. More free, and soulful as ever, the album flows smoothly like caramel. The sweetness never turns sickly. They experiment more with synths and percussion, going beyond their falsetto voices and warped bass. The break that they’ve given themselves has rewarded us with a cohesive album that takes your expectations of a contemporary band and turns them on its head.

Their exploration into new sounds is heard mostly in songs like ‘Casio’ and ‘Smile’, the first being a more laid-back and reserved track. Its use of simple drums and ‘70s-esque disco sound bites digs deeper into Jungle’s funkcore. ‘Smile’ opens the album and is bursting with excitement and passion. It is a clear example of how much growth there has been along with ‘House in LA’. Although these tracks have opposite, nearly conflicting vibes, they are both layered and fully realised. The funk that propelled Jungle onto another level has been the base they have worked off of to create a new sound that goes beyond the safe confines of soul. With tracks such as ‘Cosurmyne’ and ‘Pray’, this comfort zone of funk is left behind completely. They soar and become cinematic and orchestral. They leave room for more natural vocals to have their moment.

The synths that were littered throughout their debut album, which became Jungle’s trademark still rear their head in the background of some of the tracks. It reminds us that they have not forgotten their roots. Their music has developed, gone through puberty, and has evolved from a shy talented kid to a fully realised adult that is proud of its growth and is looking forward to the direction it’s heading in.