Lone ranger

With a title like Hi-Yo Silver, Away! and the picture of a cowboy perched on a horse which has its front hooves in the air, one would expect that the CD would be a rollicking musical ride.

Alas, this reissue of deejay Lone Ranger's 1983 album for Greensleeves records is far from a spirited filly or even a bucking bronco of a listen.

Instead, it is the nearly placid plod of a tired old warhorse, put out to pasture after the days of taking its rider into battle are over, with certain vital organs required for stud duty shot off.

OK, maybe it is not so bad, but the songs that Lone Ranger is best known for, Love Bump and The Answer, are not on this album. What is, and in abundance too, is Lone Ranger's trademark 'right'. And 'bongdidlebong'. And some indefinable but very sweet sounds.

Unfortunately they, along with decent rhythms from the omnipresent Taxi Gang, are not enough to make Hi-Yo Silver, Away! a decent listen. Among the better cuts are the close dance commentary Rub 'N' Scrub, as well as his take on the by then customary Johnny Mek Yuh Bad So (the 12-inch mix is also included).

Then there is Love Affair Problem, which delves into the romantic counsellor of choice before Dear Pastor, advising that if there is a problem with a love affair "tell it to Janet Sinclair".

However, those breaks into musical trots come amid the clip-clop of ordinary enough songs such as Tom Drunk, Legalise The National Herb and Solomon. They are, of course, good enough for a listen, as Lone Ranger is a more than competent deejay and the Taxi Gang lays good rhythms. But strung end to end on an album, they tend towards being bland.

Then, maybe it is a matter of different tastes nearly 25 years after the initial release.

- M.C.

Track listing

Tom Drunk

Rub 'N' Scrub

Legalise The National Herb

Gunshot Mek Daughter Drop

Living As A Poor

Johnny Mek Yuh Bad So

The Clock

Lone Ranger & Tonto

Solomon

Love Affair Problem

Johnny, Mek Yuh Bad So (12-inch mix)

Outside Right (Taxi Gang)