Posted on 04/21/2009
The second installment in the Strut Records Inspiration Information series continues where the last project featuring Amp Fiddler and Sly & Robbie left off, pairing Studio One reggae singer and Massive Attack collaborator Horace Andy with UK producer and remixer Ashley Beedle (X-Press 2/Ballistic Brothers/Black Science Orchestra).

With both figures of this cross-genre duo being quite competent in their respective genres, the resulting songs from this intensive five-day writing and recording session are as solid as one might expect. Beedle successfully creates a reggae backdrop that incorporates elements of dancehall and dubstep, giving Andy ample space to do what he does best, as evidenced early on in the soulful, rasta-fied opener “When The Rain.” Beedle seamlessly fuses electronic programming with more organic-sounding live instruments on songs like the bouncy “The Light” and the horn-addled “Festival Song.”

The duo also switch things up with an acoustic cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Angie” that, surprisingly, works very well. And while the album isn’t totally without blemishes (the ‘do-and-don’t’ rattling of “Rasta Don’t” comes across too silly to even qualify as preachy), it’s an effort that, while generally unspectacular, hits all of its intended marks and will likely appeal to followers of both musicians involved.

- Sean Kantrowitz