Toddla T - Take It Back

Toddla T’s new single does exactly what it says on the tin. With its ravey keyboards and breakbeat stuttering along in the background, ‘Take It Back’ takes Toddla’s sound straight back to the 90s. Hell, Shola Ama is even doing the vocals, you don’t get much more 90s than that.

Coming across like middle of the road Altern-8, it would sit comfortably in the tracklisting of a Best of 90s Dance compilation. But after the dancehall influence of his debut album and energetic live sets you could have expected something more exciting or exotic from Toddla. It remains to be seen whether his second album, released later this year, will cover a wider range of sounds, but he’ll have to step up his game if he wants to compete with the dexterity Zomby showed with his take on the 90s on ‘Where Were You’ in 92?

Luckily, if the original ‘Take It Back’ doesn’t quite do it for you the single also offers six remixes. Toddla’s own club mix and D1’s version add little to the original apart from making it easier to dance to and adding a touch of funky. The 2 Bears bring some class to the beats and vocal sample, but with their remix clocking in at over seven minutes they string it out a bit too long. Almost polishing it to the point where it becomes coffee table dance music.

The next two mixes take the track back to the future. Dillon Francis goes for an electro anthem and after some nice pitch shifting and a big drop he just about pulls it off. Brooding synths and the squelch of bass signal that Des Demure has gone for a dubstep refix. And while it’s not breaking any boundaries it is a competent reworking.

Finally, DJ Q stays with the 90s theme by presenting a well-crafted garage version. By sticking to the same time period but taking the track in a different direction, his is certainly the most creative and enjoyable mix. Maybe Toddla could learn from DJ Q the next time he wants to take his sound back.