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'Back And Forth', Tall Paul's debut album, is as much a carefully constructed DJ set as it is an artist album.
It begins with the sustained, ambient keyboards of Paul's summer hit 'Precious Heart', as re-mixed by Lush. From this gentle breezy intro the album begins to build, at first picking up pace through the whispering high hats and a foot to the floor kick drum of 'Go Get It' . Swirling keyboards keep an element of continuity, while the track effectively serves as a link into the peak time forthcoming single, 'Everybody's A Rockstar'.
Having got up to speed the cheese ridden filtered keyboard noises are given free reign to enjoy the party. Marginally more interesting are the siren like introduction sounds to 'Let Me Show You', although these are soon superseded by a slightly funky two note bass line.
By now we're nearing the centre of the set and appropriately Tall Paul drops the original version of the Michael Hutchence sampling 'Precious Heart'. Keeping the tempo going, he cuts into the more abrasive sounds of TTB's 'God's Love', his other chart hit from earlier this year.
'Be There' predictably adds more severe beats to the set, as a turbine driven bass line sneaks into its underbelly.
By this time we're ready for a mood change and Paul wisely drops the pace for the hip nudging 'Lunes Por La Noche'. But the new mood is short lived as the onomatopoeic 'Freebase' charges in.
The reggae fuelled 'Take It Easy' provides the album's first surprise, as its rock steady rhythms crunch uncomfortably between the assault courses of 'Freebase' and 'Latin Bass'.
'Rock Da House' is as cleche ridden as its title, through which the elegance of 'Freefall' emerges to resolve the set to a state of calm.
As a DJ set it's carefully constructed, but Tall Paul's area of dance music does not readily lend itself to producing home listening albums and, whatever his intentions, this remains a resolute party record.
