Hornin' Sounds Vinilo y CD

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: 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: 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.