Hornin' Sounds Vinyl & CDs

Review: Horning Sounds hits release number 50 so big up to them for that, which is no small feat in this day and age. The music on this half-century release is classic too as it casts us back to 1979 and the word of Ruddy Symbol, as produced and arranged by Rudolph Francis. If you can find an original copy of this on 45 it is worth a pretty penny so nice to have this reissue for those that can't - 'Time To Realise' is a heart-aching lament with pained and lazy horns slowly rising up out of the fat bottomed dub rhythms. On the flip, you can find 'Time To Dub' a stripped-back version for headier sessions.

Review: Four weighty units of dubwise reggae come courtesy of Countryman, West Finga and Jeh. The star-sider, 'This Generation' by Countryman, is a banging enough contribution to this latest EP for Hornin' to receive several versions. A foreboding ballad for a generation beset by economic problems - "this generation got nothing to lose... there's gonna be problems!" - the veteran singer and soundsystem operator is adept as ever in delivering a high-consciousness message. The B-side, meanwhile, features two dub versions of the same riddim by West Finga and JEH, two producers also part of the selfsame French Hornin' Sounds crew.

Review: The Hornin Sounds label invites you to sink deep into a reggae vibe on this superlative 7" from Vin Gordon. Though freshly mastered, the sis actually built on an old instrumental that was dug out of some archives. It was originally played by Fazal Prendergast alongside The High Times Players at the legendary Channel One studio in 1982. Scientist mixed it at King Tubby studio meaning its credentials are unquestionable. Here it is finished with some deadly and devastating trombone from 'Don D Junior.'

Review: Israel Movements is an 80's roots reggae band from Birmingham. Someone has been digging in the vaults and tuned out some multitrack tapes for this underrated opus so that they can be pressured. The talented band bring deep roots, mad steppers, dii sounds and on this version some newly extended dubs that really make their mark. 'No sniff, no coke, no heroin, just stick with sinsemilla' is a fine hook to kick off the opening track with and from there things remain essential as many different reggae styles are explored with great social-political commentary up top.

Review: Horning Sounds is fast approaching 50 releases and is doing so with some classic roots and lover's rock from Ruddy Symbol, who are also behind that landmark 50th. This new reissue is of their classic mid-eighties sounds, namely 'A So The System Work'. It's as laid back and loved up as this stuff comes - the loosely picked guitars, the oh-so-sweet falsetto vocals and the gentle chords all serve to melt your soul. Flip it over for a dub version but the A-side really does take some beating.