Midnight Scorchers

Midnight Scorchers
Studio album by
Released16 September 2022 (2022-09-16)
StudioOn-U Soundcastle (Ramsgate, England)[1]
Length39:12
LabelOn-U Sound
ProducerAdrian Sherwood
Horace Andy chronology
Midnight Rocker
(2022)
Midnight Scorchers
(2022)
Timeless Roots
(2024)

Midnight Scorchers is a studio album by Jamaican singer-songwriter Horace Andy.[2] It was released on 16 September 2022 through On-U Sound Records.[3][4] It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[5]

Background

Midnight Scorchers is a dub version of Midnight Rocker (2022).[2] It contains reworked versions of songs from Midnight Rocker, as well as songs from the Midnight Rocker sessions that did not make it onto the album.[6] It is produced by Adrian Sherwood.[7] It features guest appearances from Daddy Freddy and Lone Ranger on vocals.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Mojo[9]
Punknews.org[10]
Uncut7/10[11]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Midnight Scorchers received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[5]

Nick Hasted of Uncut commented that Midnight Rocker "reaffirmed Horace Andy's regal reggae status earlier this year, irrespective of his latter-day Massive Attack fame."[11] He added, "Its producer Adrian Sherwood now completes the picture with this sound-system-style refashioning, breaking tracks open, resetting them in eerie dubscapes, as with the title track's rough, warping synths, and adding session off-cuts."[11] Simon McEwen of Mojo stated, "If April's slick Midnight Rocker album was a post-Studio One career high for reggae legend Horace Andy, then this dubbed-up companion LP even takes it up a notch."[9]

Track listing

Midnight Scorchers track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Come After Midnight"H. Hinds4:26
2."Midnight Scorcher"4:54
3."Away with the Gun and Knife"3:35
4."Dirty Money Business"3:43
5."Sleepy's Night Cap"H. Hinds2:59
6."Feverish"H. Hinds4:09
7."Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City"
  • M. Price
  • D. Walsh
3:35
8."Dub Guidance"
4:30
9."More Bassy"H. Hinds3:34
10."Hell and Back"H. Hinds3:47
Total length:39:12

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[1]

  • Horace Andy – vocals
  • Gaudi – steel guitar, piano, celesta, Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, Clavinet, synthesizer
  • Skip McDonald – lead guitar, horn arrangement
  • Crucial Tony – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Alan Glen – mouth organ
  • Style Scott – drums
  • Prisoner – drums, programming
  • Ivan "Celloman" Hussey – cello (1, 2, 5, 7), saxophone (9)
  • George Oban – bass guitar (1, 3, 5–10)
  • Douglas Wimbish – bass guitar (2, 4)
  • Daddy Freddy – vocals (2, 4, 9)
  • Cyrus Richards – melodica (2, 5, 10)
  • Paul Booth – lead saxophone (3, 4, 6), clarinet (3, 4, 6)
  • Richard Doswell – saxophone (3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
  • Dave Fulwood – trumpet (3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
  • Chris Petter – trombone (3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
  • Lone Ranger – vocals (8)
  • Horseman – percussion, drums (10)
  • Adrian Sherwood – production
  • Matthew Smyth – engineering, programming
  • David McEwen – engineering, programming
  • Frank Merritt – mastering
  • Ruff Mercy – artwork
  • Michael Moodie – photography
  • Jaffa – layout

Charts

Chart performance for Midnight Scorchers
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 58
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[13] 15
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] 17

References

  1. ^ a b Horace Andy (2022). Midnight Scorchers (CD booklet). On-U Sound Records.
  2. ^ a b Dougan, John. "Horace Andy". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  3. ^ "41 New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  4. ^ "33 New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Midnight Scorchers by Horace Andy". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b Thomas, Fred. "Midnight Scorchers - Horace Andy". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  7. ^ Carty, Pat (16 September 2022). "Album Review: Horace Andy - Midnight Scorchers". Hot Press. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  8. ^ Pearis, Bill (16 September 2022). "Indie Basement (9/16): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  9. ^ a b McEwen, Simon (October 2022). "Mojo Filter". Mojo. p. 82.
  10. ^ Gentile, John (28 October 2022). "Horace Andy - Midnight Scorchers". Punknews.org. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Hasted, Nick (October 2022). "New Albums". Uncut. p. 25.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 23/9/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 23/9/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 23/9/2022 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2025.