Horace Andy rose to prominence in Jamaica in the late ‘70s, singing in his … Read Full Bio ↴Horace Andy rose to prominence in Jamaica in the late ‘70s, singing in his distinctive wail to the tune of reggae riddims. He has since put out more records than your grandparents’ garage sale, collecting an impressive discography that spans four decades and shows no signs of stopping. Alpha, a production duo from England, has been around for twenty less years, creating instrumental music in roughly the same vein as Massive Attack. The details on what initially brought these two entities together are vague, if extraneous, as the collusion between them seems natural, organic, and I daresay destined.

At any rate, Two Phazed People is the result, a record that manages a fine balance between dub, reggae, and, at times, a version of trip hop not unlike Portishead. Horace Andy, the still vibrant old soul of the Caribbean, is completely at ease regardless of the production format, his voice inflected with a subtle gravelly quality and an emotive tendency to waver, tremble, and shiver over the song’s words. This lends a transient sensation to the album, a fuzzy cloak of the ethereal that endures well after the vocals have faded and the music has finished bleeding through the speakers.

The record revolves around the song “Storm”, which opens the album and occurs two more times, seemingly at random, as remixes. This dual remix presentation seems like a strange choice for a studio album, but the various takes are so disparate as to appear totally unique. The original is pure headnodding dub, thumping along to glitchy percussion and ending in a spacey fadeout. The second “Shine Mix” is revamped into a bubbly echo-effect laden piece meant for skankin’ in timin’, and the final “Five Step Mix” minimizes the original’s vocals, allowing the synths to whir and bleep over a heavy bassline. Why this track in particular was chosen for such fervent reprisal is unclear, though I can say that it doesn’t detract from any consistency or come off as obnoxious. Sometimes material is original even when it’s redone.

But there’s more than just weather reports given in triplicate on Two Phazed People. “Make My Day” is carried by a repetitive bassline and Andy’s unrelenting optimism, droning on well past the eight-minute mark into indulgent trance territory. “Empress Lady” is a trippy ode to the fairer sex that Gregory Isaacs would be proud of, and “Declaration of Rights” is political reggae encouraging civil resistance that most people are quick to associate with Bob Marley. The album’s most undeniably energetic, if somewhat dark, track is “Believers”, featuring a gruff vocal cadence and a powerful guitar line. Even Andy’s cryptic repetition of the word “Ahem” is oddly infectious, so much so that I found myself repeating it as the song played in my head throughout the day, causing a few awkward social exchanges.

The downtempo “So Unfair” closes things out with an epically cinematic and arching keyboard flourish, cementing a dynamic value to Two Phazed People that is typically uncharacteristic of the loose reggae genre. With that in mind it is to Alpha’s credit that the production has such an impressive sonic range that still manages to remain steeped in Jamaican roots. Andy is unquestionably up to the task of his vocal duties, comfortably singing about life’s ills, the necessity of perseverance, and adherence to Jah’s will with a varied approach that never grows stale or weary. With the help of Alpha’s confident, well-crafted beats, Horace Andy proves that he is still in integral part of the music world, as important now as he was 30 years ago, achieving longevity through hybridization.

* Source: http://www.popmatters.com/review/115563-horace-andy-and-alpha-two-phazed-people/

Believers
HORACE ANDY/ALPHA Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the blue bird as she sings
The six-o'clock alarm would never ring
But six rings and I rise
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
The shaving razor's cold and it stings

Cheer up sleepy Jean

Oh what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen

You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Oh, our good times start and end
Without all I want to spend
But how much baby do we really need

Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh what can it mean to a

Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen

Overall Meaning

The HORACE ANDY/ALPHA's song Believers has the same chorus lyrics as the Monkees' “Daydream Believer,” with a few variations in the verses. The song talks about the singer's desire to remain in his daydreams and not be limited by the constraints of reality. He dreams of hiding under the wings of a blue bird that is singing and never having to wake up to the sound of the six-o’clock alarm.

The lyrics suggest that the singer’s partner used to have unrealistic expectations of him, but now has come to appreciate his happiness for what it is. The song also mentions the materialistic nature of society, with the singer wondering how much his partner really needs, as they try to make ends meet.

The song Believers has been well-received for its message, which is relatable and thought-provoking. By encouraging listeners to hold onto their dreams and resist societal pressures to conform, the song has become a source of inspiration for many. The lyrics suggest that it is possible to be happy outside of the traditional norms and expectations of society.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh I could hide 'neath the wings
I wish I could escape the pressures of life

Of the blue bird as she sings
To the comfort of nature’s melodies

The six-o'clock alarm would never ring
And avoid the daily routine

But six rings and I rise
But I must wake up early

Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
And shake off drowsiness

The shaving razor's cold and it stings
Although self-care can hurt

Cheer up sleepy Jean
Be happy, regardless of circumstances

Oh what can it mean to a
What is the significance of being content

Daydream believer and a
Someone who lives in their imagination

Homecoming queen
Someone who has come back triumphant

You once thought of me
At one point you believed in me