The broadsheets have got it in for Groove Armada. Building up to the release of their fifth album proper, The Observer’s music critic Kitty Empire was first to get her claws out. She referred to band members Andy Cato and Tom Findlay as “over-rated DJ-bar soundtrackers”.

Nick Hasted from The Independent followed suit. Reviewing the duo’s gig at Hammersmith Palais, the last in the venue’s history, he couldn’t resist a dig. “Groove Armada”, he wrote, “remain the dullest of the DJ duos who came to prominence in the Nineties (after Basement Jaxx and Chemical Brothers)”.

Cato and Findlay probably escaped further slurs after refraining from the temptation to call their latest release, “Soundbwoy Rock”. Those wigga jibes would have just kept coming otherwise. Not that they’ve totally stopped.

Yet, upon listening to Soundboy Rock, something one suspects both Empire and Hasted haven’t bothered to do, all the criticism seems more than a mite unfair. What’s not to admire in a band who champion emerging artists and veteran survivors alike, from chirpy garage MC, Stush, to soul diva, Candi Staton.

So the good ship(s) manned by Cato and Tom Findlay survive to sail another day. Despite the quality papers’ attempts to capsize them. Fans needn’t worry as pot shots aren’t going to sink Groove Armada.

(3½/5)