Back catalogue: Reggae

Review: Horace Andy dropped one of his most well-known cuts back in 1987. It's a lovely rootsy dancehall skank in the form of 'What A Problem' that he produced himself alongside Michael Taylo and Andy Bassford. His mic work is exceptional as he twists and turns his vocals to ride on top of the drums and deliver his message with style and grace in his textbook smooth vocal tone. The version on the flip drills down into darker and more gritty dancehall vibes with the fat bassline front and centre next to plenty of echo and reverb.

Review: Hope & Faith Records has put together three different 7"s featuring the original 'Standing Tall' riddim, which is a slick production in the early 70s roots reggae style. Acclaimed Spanish singer Payoh Soul Rebel is behind one, the female harmony trio from Basque reggae band Tacumah another, and this one comes from Jamaican legend Horace Andy who brings a fresh take on the classic roots sound. His smoky vocals bring real warmth and depth while a flip-side dub goes deep.

Review: Horace Andy's Midnight Rocker, produced by Adrian Sherwood and released on On-U Sound, is a stunning late-career triumph that reimagines classic tracks and introduces fresh material. Known for his iconic vibrato-heavy falsetto, Andy has long been a defining voice in dub, having first gained fame in the 1970s through collaborations with Bunny Lee. Over the years, his voice has deepened and grown richer, adding layers of vulnerability and maturity that are beautifully showcased in this album. Sherwood's production enhances Andy's vocals by stripping down the original arrangements and introducing live instrumentation, which brings a modern clarity to the classic dub sound. Tracks like the reworked 'This Must Be Hell' lose their jazz piano but gain a driving bassline, making the song more dancefloor-ready. Similarly, the updated version of 'Materialis' uses a synth bass to amplify the emotional urgency in Andy's vocals, while Mr Bassie transforms from a plea into a powerful declaration. New songs like 'Watch Over Them' and 'Try Love' take Andy into the realm of lover's rock, with his voice perfectly complementing the syncopated rhythms. Throughout Midnight Rocker, Sherwood draws out some of Andy's most compelling performances, particularly on the intense 'Safe from Harm'. This album is a testament to Andy's enduring talent and leaves listeners eager for what's next from the 71-year-old legend.

Review: Midnight Rocker is regarded as one of the finest albums that noted reggae vocalist Horace Andy ever put out. It features plenty of his classic tracks all stylish rearranged with plenty of mature dub sounds all produced by the one and only Adrian Sherwood. Andy's voice has a deep, rich and vulnerable tone to it here across tunes like 1978 classic 'This Must Be Hell' while newer tunes like 'Try Love' find him in a more intimate mood than ever before. After more than five decades in the game, this proves that Horace Andy remains at the very top of his art.

Review: Timeless Roots is a brilliant collaboration between reggae legend Horace Andy and renowned bassist Jah Wobble. Known for his ethereal vocals, Andy breathes new life into classics like Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' and The Beatles' 'Come Together', while also revisiting his own iconic tracks like 'Skylarking' and 'Natty Dread A Weh She Want.' Wobble, former PiL bassist, Orb collaborator as well as a solo artist of some renown, blends reggae, modern dub and world music to create a rich sonic landscape that perfectly complements Andy's distinctive voice. The album stands out not only for its reinterpretation of well-known songs but also for its innovative production, which maintains the essence of roots reggae while introducing contemporary elements.
Wobble's deep bass grooves provide a solid foundation, allowing Andy's vocals to soar, particularly on new takes of his classics. This collaboration is a seamless fusion of two musical worlds, making Timeless Roots one of the standout reggae albums of the yearia true match made in musical heaven.

Review: Du men don't come much more legendary or iconic than King Tubby and Horace Andy, so having them together on one album was always going to result in straight fire. And so it proves on The King Tubby Tapes, a double album of deeply affecting roots and lovers rock first issued on Jet Star Records' 'Charm' imprint. It showcases Dubby's audio skills and Andy's distinctive vocal style while including selections from his 1979 album Pure Ranking and a second album of dub remixes. Session men Robbie Shakespeare, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Tony Chin and Bernard "Touter" Harvey all feature this one.