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With loved the previous singles leading up to the album, ‘Angels’ featuring the vocal talents of Yolanda and the title track, ‘Back Up, Coming Through’ with various remixes but there’s much more to come with a cross genre breaks explosion of soul, funk, jazz, dancehall, reggae, dubstep, jungle and hip-hop,

Kicking off with the life-affirming ‘Bounce And Rebound’ there’s Yolanda on the vocals with a jazzy skit, “jungle institution” TopCat (last seen of Mungo’s Hi-Fi - Sound System Champions), Ski Oakenfull (variously involved with The Bays, Galliano, Incognito, The K-Creative, Raw Stylus, Two Banks Of Four) on keys and live drumming by Raphael Mercier. And the live instrumentation really comes over on the track ‘Fire’ (more drums and keyboards by Mercier/Oakenfull, Trumpet by Duncan Mackay and sax/flue by Jim Hunt) that’s modern soul-acid jazz-funk with that girl Yolanda on top form sharing the vocals with former member of the Drifters, Vic Bynoe! Well, the album is coming out on a traditional jazz-funk all-dayer bank holiday (see below, check out Peterson this week!) but this Vic and Yolanda on ‘Ready For Your Love’ make that bridge between Soul Weekenders and thumpin’ Rave/d’n’b.

And the tracks keep on coming with the booty shakin’ of ‘One In The Front’ with DJ Assault (an expert in Detroit’s ghetto-tech apparently) on vocal duties with squechy synths and liythe strings, it’s a bit of a grower as are the other two tracks he’s on. Tampa’s Shunda K (of electro-rapsters Yo Majesty) joins Yolanda for ‘Show Me What You Do’ and Stanton Warriors get in on the act with ‘Handz Up (Thumbs Down)’ along with Canada’s MC Flipside. That one has a bit of a ‘Fade To Grey’ line in it but the second half of the album is just as strong as the first.

Andronia Popova is a classically trained musician from Sofia, Bulgaria and this is where Deekline And Wizard got the string arrangements for ‘Angels’ and ‘Dancehall Thrilla’; the latter packed with added drama with guest appearances by James Smith (of Hadouken!, I’d admit I’m a bit of a fan of their ‘Leap Of Faith’, well the Chase & Status remix anyway) and ragga MC Navigator. And keeping it heavyweith, next up is ‘Baila Baila’. Even with string and oud (yes, Iraqi oud player Safak), this is a hard track and to keep it dark and cinematic, ‘Keep It Pushing’ sees the return of DJ Assult and additional input by thier old Botchit & Scarper mate, Freq Nasty.

‘Angels’ takes us out with some Yolanda loviness.

Reviewed: Deekline And Wizard - Back Up, Coming Through (Against The Grain) Cat. No: ATGCD08 Release date: 13th April 2009
Notes: Track 10. contains a bonus track
Tracklisting:
1 Bounce And Rebound (4:10)
2 Back Up (Love For The Music) (3:52)
3 Fire (6:44)
4 Ready For Your Love (3:09)
5 One In The Front (4:10)
6 Show Me What You Do (2:52)
7 Handz Up (3:12)
8 Make A Living (4:04)
9 Dancehall Thrilla (3:04)
10 Baila Baila (6:14)
11 Keep It Pushing (4:30)
12 Angels (10:29)

Links:
www.deeklineandwizard.com
www.djdeekline.com
www.myspace.com/djdeekline
www.superchargedmusic.com
www.freqnasty.com
www.myspace.com/djfreqnasty
www.myspace.com/mcnavigator
www.mcflipside.com
http://myspace.com/yomajesty4life
www.myspace.com/dj_assault
www.myspace.com/skioakenfull
Gilles Peterson :: 9th April 2009 :: Brownswood Basement Special (Build-A-Blue Note Band Part 2 & Brit Funk Mix)
Incognito - ‘Summer’s Ended’ (Ensign)
Heat Wave - ‘Boogie Nights’ (Epic)
Cache - ‘Jazzin & Cruisin’ (Groove Production)
Spandau Ballet - ‘Chant No. 1 (Don’t Need This Pressure On)’ (Chrysalis)
Hi Tension - ‘British Hussle’ (EMI)
Hi Tension - ‘Hi Tension’ (Island)
Light of the World - ‘Time’ (Envy)
Linx - ‘You’re Lying’ (Chrysalis)
Atmosfear - ‘Invasion’ (Elite)
Real Thing - ‘Can You Feel The Force?’ (PYE Records)
Touchdown - ‘Ease Your Mind’ (White)
Freeez - ‘Southern Freeez’ (Freeez)
Proton - ‘Pay Up’ (UK Champagne Records)
TW Funky Masters - ‘Love Money’ (UK Champagne Records)
Powerline - ‘Journey To…’ (Elite)
Sun Palace - ‘Winning’ (Passion)
Level 42 - ‘Love Meeting Love’ (Elite Records)