Nardo Ranks

Nardo Ranks – Rough Nardo Ranking – Profile – 1992

Solgie Hamilton never ceases to amaze, whenever or wherever something good is going on in reggae music, this man is involved somewhere. Be it engineering or in the case of this album, producing. Nardo Ranks debut album is yet another gold star in his book that contains many gold stars. The big hit of this set is ‘Burrup’ both the hip hop and ragga mixes are included here, and they are both as good. ‘Rough Nardo Ranking’ is my favourite track though. It’s Tiger like styling is murder. Solgie’s production is of course excellent. Listen out for the way he puts echo and reverb on the rhythm guitar.

Nardo Ranks – Cool And Humble – Heartbeat - 1995

By the mid nineties if any DJ wanted to link up with a forward looking produer, he could do no better than pick Richard Bell, or Bello. The man was on a very distinct roll. The Jack Radics and Everton Blender sets put him at very top of the creative producer league. Nardo himself has a very distinct style and had his own following. Yet this album like the Solgie album, did not it seems advance Nardo an inch. OK the Radics and Blender sets were from singers, but the rhythms Bello had built for them, some of which turn up here are excellent. Nardo himself is in fine style just check ‘Unwanted’ and ‘Hush Baby Mother’ for reality, and ‘Nuh Bwoy’ as a great tune, just as the album is overall.