U-Roy - Solid Gold U-Roy

The Guardian 0

(Trojan Jamaica/BMG)
A definitive lineup of toasting classics still excite on the late great’s last album, a joyous reminder of the talent we lost

The late reggae icon U-Roy was the first DJ to bring sound system toasting into the recording studio, so it’s appropriate that Solid Gold U-Roy – his final album – plays like his definitive songbook of the genre’s classics: Queen Majesty, Stop That Train, Wake the Town and Man Next Door are brought up to date with contemporary instrumentation without losing the spirit of the originals. The high point is a joyously berserk take on Every Knee Shall Bow, with U-Roy and Big Youth skimming freestyle lyrics across a sizzling hi-stepping tempo, an overload of horns and random SFX mixed by Scientist.

Related: U-Roy: the singularly musical toaster was a vital part of reggae's bloodline