Album review: The Internet, Hive Mind

The Internet is back with Hive Mind. Photo / Getty Images

On first listen, The Internet's Hive Mind struck me as a little dull; everything sits at a very subdued level without any obvious peaks or dips.

But that's very much the point - chill is what these guys do best. You can't put Hive Mind on in the background at work and expect to get the most out of it, you have to listen, you have to bathe in it a bit.

It's as sultry, smooth and funk-filled as you've come to expect, and as the group reunites after a three-year hiatus of pursuing solo projects, it's clear they've come back stronger and surer.

Most notably, Syd - while still singing from a place of longing and desire - has come back with a lot more swagger, boasting lines like: "I might snatch up your wife smooth like it's nothing to me".

And somehow, she can sing about simple notions like puppy love and getting butterflies, and make them sound like a Marvin Gaye-esque declaration of love.

Whereas a lot of the tracks are about love and desire, Syd has said the group wanted to use Hive Mind to "live by example and promote camaraderie among young black people" - hence the name, probably.

To that end, It Gets Better is a stand out track as Syd - along with spoken-word poet Big Rube - utilises the language of the viral online campaign for LGBT+ youth to send a broader message of hope and support, reminding listeners they have the strength to overcome adversity.

And Look What U Started, although a break-up song on the surface, preaches a message to accept the love you deserve and nothing less.

Surrounding all this, there are upbeat funk numbers (Roll and La Di Da), hazy, dreamy numbers (Wanna Be, Hold On), sultry slow jams (Mood, Stay the Night) and more.

Unfortunately, the original problem still stands: People don't always have time to sit with an album like this one demands.

As it is, it just feels like it's missing something. It's too easy to put on then forget about, and there's too much artistry here to waste it on background music.

The Internet, Hive Mind

Artist: The Internet
Album: Hive Mind
Label: Columbia / Sony Music
Verdict: Smooth and sultry, but is there such a thing as too chill?