Above & Beyond’s Common Ground is Their Best Since Group Therapy

One of the most beloved acts in dance music delivers again. After announcing their fourth artist album back at their annual Group Therapy milestone event in September, Above & Beyond have delivered a true masterpiece with their new album Common Ground.

Any musician will tell you that to grow as an artist, you have to take risks. Throughout the years, Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamaki have indeed taken many risks. Common Ground is no different. Their core sound remained intact, but it’s the variety of sounds they incorporated that make this album unlike anything they’ve released. Throughout the album, you’ll hear a mixture of instruments from piano, to guitar, and even snares.

While also producing high energy tracks, Above & Beyond show off their musical composition skills with a few down tempo ballads. Songs like ‘The Inconsistency Principle’, ‘Always’, and album title ‘Common Ground’ all incorporate beautiful instruments with moving melodies while leaving the bass line at home. The music is emotionally stirring and truly embodies who Above & Beyond are as artists.

The familiar voices of Above & Beyond are everywhere on this album. Zoe Johnston, Richard Bedford, and Justine Suissa each have three tracks on the album. This is the first time that all three are featured on the same album; something any Above & Beyond fan will recognize as truly special. Marty Longstaff makes his debut on the fan favorite ‘Tightrope’ and even Above & Beyond’s own Jono Grant makes his vocalist debut on ‘Is it Love? (1001)’. This album is a true “common ground” of Above & Beyond new and old.

You’ll hear the beautiful voice of Zoe Johnston on the emotional ‘My Own Hymn’, ‘Always’, a song dedicated to the loyalty of A&B’s fans, and ‘Sahara Love’, which features catchy guitar chords and will surely become a fan favorite. Zoe’s lyrics once again hit close to home, stirring up some serious emotions. This is undoubtedly some of their best work together.

‘Sun & Moon’ vocalist Richard Bedford is featured on ‘Northern Soul’, a dedication to the city of Detroit, ‘Happiness Amplified’, and ‘Bittersweet & Blue’; two tracks which blend melody and energy masterfully. Bedford wasn’t featured on We Are All We Need, so to have him back working with Above & Beyond feels special once again.

Oceanlab vocalist Justine Suissa is featured on the already popular ‘Alright Now’, the stirring ‘Naked’, and the deep and meaningful ‘Cold Feet’. She, just like Zoe Johnston, has an incredible talent for song writing and singing. These tracks stand out arguably more than any other on the album.

Every song on Common Ground is special in its own way. ‘My Own Hymn’, ‘Northern Soul’, ‘Tightrope’, ‘Always’ and ‘Alright Now’ saw their releases before the album and have already become fan favorites. But Above & Beyond cleverly held the other tracks for the album release. Fans will be singing ‘Naked’, ‘Sahara Love’, ‘Cold Feet’, and ‘Bittersweet & Blue’ for years to come. No doubt you’ll hear all of these on the upcoming Common Ground Tour. Maybe we’ll even see a new “Push the Button” song. Perhaps ‘Alright Now’, ‘Is It Love?’, or one of the other many wonderful tracks on the album. My guess is you’ll even hear club mixes and remixes from Anjunabeat’s best and brightest in the near future.

Above & Beyond’s fourth artist album Common Ground will see its release tomorrow, January 26^th. They’ll continue their Common Ground Tour at Echostage and then at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. If you’ve already got tickets, then you’re in luck. A copy of Common Ground comes with every ticket sold on the tour. So if you don’t have a ticket yet, go grab one and you’ll get a copy of the album. You can check out the tracklist and tour dates below along with the released singles. The full album will be available tomorrow. And to all the fans, just remember,“always, sure as the rising sun” you will fall in love with Common Ground.

Above & Beyond Common Ground Tracklist

1. Above & Beyond- The Inconsistency Principle
2. Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston- My Own Hymn
3. Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford- Northern Soul
4. Above & Beyond feat. Justin Suissa- Naked
5. Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston- Sahara Love
6. Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford- Happiness Amplified
7. Above & Beyond- Is It Love? (1001)
8. Above & Beyond feat. Justine Suissa- Cold Feet
9. Above & Beyond feat. Marty Longstaff- Tightrope
10. Above & Beyond feat. Justine Suissa- Alright Now
11. Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford- Bittersweet And Blue
12. Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston- Always
13. Above & Beyond- Common Ground

Common Ground Tour Dates:

• January 25^th – The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
• January 26^th – Echostage, Washington, DC
• January 27^th – Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
• February 1^st – Rebel, Toronto, ON
• February 2^nd – Rebel, Toronto, ON
• February 3^rd – Place Bell, Laval, QC
• February 6^th – Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
• February 8^th – S.I Hall at NYS Fairground, Syracuse, NY
• February 9^th – The Palladium, Worcester, MA
• February 10^th – The Strand, Providence RI
• February 15^th – House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
• February 16^th – Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre, Indianapolis, IN
• February 17^th – Navy Pier Festival Hall, Chicago, IL
• February 18^th – The Fillmore, Detroit MI
• February 21^st – The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
• February 23^rd – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Dallas, TX
• February 24^th – Revention Music Center, Houston, TX
• February 25^th – EDC Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
• February 27^th – Rawhide Event Center, Phoenix, AZ
• March 2^nd – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
• March 3^rd – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
• March 7^th – Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
• March 8^th – Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
• March 9^th – Revolution Concert House and Event Center, Garden City, ID
• March 10^th – Get Lucky Festival, Salt Lake City, UT
• March 13^th – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland, Kansas City, MO
• March 15^th – Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN
• March 16^th – The Joy Theater, New Orleans, LA
• March 17^th – Coca-Cola Roxy, Atlanta, GA
• March 18^th – The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
• March 22^nd – RC Cola Plant, Miami, FL
• May 19^th – Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
• May 26^th – Steel Yard, Finsbury Park, London, UK