Reviewed by Martin I Smith

While many of the songs on this release can be found on the group's first offering, their re-visiting of this material alongside fresh songs suggests that the band considers this their debut proper. However you view 'Up To Jerusalem', the talent of this south-London ensemble is clear, in part from the members' individual proficiency but also from their ability to weave so many genres together holistically. To suggest that Emphasize have merely dipped into the genre goody bag is to betray the organic blend of the music. While rock, funk and hip-hop are the obvious roots of their sound, there is none of the clumsiness which emerges in similarly influenced but less capable hands - the clumsiness that has given the term "rap-rock" such a derogatory tone. Indeed, the rhymes of Fuse are like a native dance to both the grooves of the formidable rhythm section (Philly D - bass, Charlie Kenny - drums), and the (at times even Tool-esque) guitar riffs of Sam Keer. Mikey G is also a competent vocal contributor, handling the more pop/rock melodies. Not content with their own cumulative quality, the band bring some additional friends along for the show; Giovanna Jayne's vocals on "Do It Again" are an album highlight and when Revolution sing "Turn the music up!" in the chorus of their cameo cut, you can't help but feel they've summed it all up. Turn the music up, amen.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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