Back catalogue: Roots/Lovers Rock

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: 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.