Rev’s Lightning 100 DJ Pick of The Week this week is “Back It Up” by Neal Francis!
Blue-eyed soul perseveres triumphantly within keyboardist extraordinaire Neal Francis. The most revered icons come packaged with a recognizable silhouette. Francis is encroaching on that realm with a voluminous bob and billowing bellbottoms, floating across stages with glitz and glamour. Still young, his classically storied career already includes mentorships by old legends, coming to sobriety, and a turn to religion. Melding groove and psychedelic elements into his sound, Francis has found a home in the jam and festival scene. “Back It Up” is his latest, a shimmering voyage into the tight funk of 70’s clubs.
Lo-fi percussion and hanging drones immediately sprout from swirling keys and bouncing basslines. His hazy vocals are more of an instrument in itself, filling key space left open by the arrangement. The boogie is undeniably palpable as Francis’ sticky clavinets erupt with vintage fury. The details in the production and performance make “Back It Up” a worthy tribute to an era for which Francis’ generation was too late to live. An electric and raunchy spectacle, the track is a love letter not only to the musicality of his influences, but the spirit of its creation as well.
Neal Francis will hit the festival circuit this summer, with appearances at Dead Ahead and All Good Now among others. “Back It Up” was accompanied by a short tour of his midwestern homeland, concluding with a sold out Chicago stop December 14th. His live shows are tried and true spectacles, acting as uncanny time machines to retro clubs past. There is no word yet on whether “Back It Up” is a teaser for a new record, but it’s clear Francis is just getting started. Check out the beautifully cheugy video below, and listen for more Neal Francis on Lightning 100!
Tune in to 100.1 FM or lightning100.com all day to hear “Back It Up” by Neal Francis, Rev’s DJ Pick of the Week! Share your thoughts on the track by tagging #L100DJPicks on Twitter!
