SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HORACE ANDY – THE VOICE IN SOUND

HORACE ANDY
THE VOICE IN SOUND
ECHO BEACH RECORDS

Do you want to hear where a lot of bands from the 1980s borrowed some of their sound and style? Well, look no further than Horace Andy. Born in Jamaica in the early 1950s, he is regarded as one of the most influential reggae and dub artists of all time. He also had several hits in the 1990s when he teamed up with Massive Attack. Andy has a distinct voice who brought so much to the songs and made the songs so unique and distinct. This album, The Voice In Sound, is a collection of new(ish) dub and remix versions of some of Andy’s songs from his vast catalogue. It also serves as an excellent introduction to the artist.

Some of the songs, like “She Say (Der Transformer Version),” really stand out from the original but still highlight Andy’s wonderful vocals. The layering of guitars makes the song very interesting, and a standout track. Throw in the piano (with a fair bit of reverb), and you have a classic. Elsewhere, he shows his political side with “It’s A Clash (Dubmatix Version).” Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were definitely listening and taking notes. “Ital Vital (Different Drummer Version)” is more instrumental, but it is perfectly sequenced with the other tracks to throw the listener a bit of a curve ball.

“Cuss Cuss” and “Skylarking” are examples of songs that get multiple versions, especially on the CD version of the album, but they are such wonderful and melodic songs, hearing the creations by remixers is not only fascinating but the treatments shed new light on the songs. You can also hear his influence on bands like Culture Club.

The Voice In Sound is a timely release to remind reggae and music fans about an artist that does not always get the recognition he rightfully deserves. His voice is still highly regarded, as is his music, it just isn’t played as much as other reggae acts. This album may correct that and may even bring new fans to Horace Andy. The new mixes are fine, and although dub and remix is part of reggae, there is a lot to be said for the original versions. His music does not need updating; he was always ahead of the curve. However, The Voice In Sound is a great compilation and one that will be my soundtrack for the summer.

Artist Links