Insiders might clock that this album's title names the 1950s/60s football swerve toward tight, sweeper-backed defensive tactics – the unenlightened might just assume there's a sensual, vaguely latin vibe sashaying around it. Undoubtedly, however, UK pianist, bandleader, composer, jazz-piano prof and sports fan Tom Cawley – with his first new original venture since his acclaimed trio Curios – intends a lot more graceful dancing than hardnosed siege-mentality football with this set. Joe Zawinul's dramatic synth palette, and the airy vocal glide of Flora Purim's voice in unison with Chick Corea's piano in the 1970s Return to Forever band are unmistakable references, but Cawley's subtle producer's touch, plus his playing skills and those of his classy partners make this a very personal reappraisal. ‘The Ungainlies’ and ‘Jabulani’ reflect the classic Purim/Corea feel in their rhythmic relaxation and silky harmonising of Fini Bearman's vocal with the instruments – Cawley and Gareth Lockrane also spring ingenious improv off these coaxingly repeated hooks, and Robin Mullarkey's bass guitar and Chris Higginbottom's drumming combine virtuosic busyness and cool. ‘Zona Mista’, a mini-masterclass in making a small band sound big, is deceptively dreamy before its invasion by dark Bitches Brew grooves; ‘Left Peg’ is a catchily languid vamp based on the session's favourite device of anthemic themes traversed by fast-moving and spontaneous flute/keys countermelodies and ‘Ramona’ is a breezy dance full of snappy rim-smacking drumming and airborne flute lines. This is an elegant, improv-inviting return to bandleading for Cawley, even if perhaps the instrumental/vocal prism through which he's viewed the enterprise doesn't quite stretch to album length.