HOW LONDON’S ROOTS ALCHEMISTS THE HEMPOLICS BREATHE FIRE INTO A FISTFUL OF COVERS
London’s premier roots-reggae alchemists, The Hempolics, are back. This time, they bring a cinematic singles project titled A Fistful of Covers. Crafted by producer Grippa Laybourne for ZeeZee Records, the collective spin legendary songs into a golden fusion of deep, soulful reggae and bass-heavy dub.
A Fist Full of Covers infuses timeless melodies with deep basslines, providing a classic dub counterpart for every track. The Hempolics’ original lead singer Harry Collier steers the ship with raw, achingly soulful vocals that inject immediate emotional warmth into these brilliant reinterpretations.
The voyage begins with a stunning, reggae-infused mutation of Sade’s classic, No Ordinary Love. The band strips away the sleek eighties sheen. Instead, they drop the melody into a heavy, hypnotic rub-a-dub groove. Collier’s performance holds the original’s vulnerability while driving it forward on a pulsing sound system rhythm.
THIS ONE’S FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC
Next, the band honours cult hero Shuggie Otis. They rework Aht Uh Mi Hed into a jazz-tinged, soulful masterpiece. Driven by a steady four-to-the-floor beat, this track feels both intimate and expansive, especially when the accompanying dub takes flight.
Finally, they salute New York rocksteady kings The Frightners with Nothing More To Say. This closing track bursts with vibrant horns and pure summer energy. “This one’s for the love of music,” Laybourne explains.
“These are tunes that meant something to us, so we’ve taken them and run them through The Hempolics sound; proper versions with dubs to match.”
By avoiding digital sterile trends, The Hempolics favour rich, analogue heat. Their sound fuses reggae, soul, and dub effortlessly. For seasoned selectors and casual listeners alike, these tracks do more than just repeat history. They rewrite it, beautifully.
EP TRACKLIST
1. No Ordinary Love
2. No Ordinary Dub
3. Nothing More To Say
4. Nothing More Dub
5. Aht Uh Mi Hed
6. Aht Uh Mi Dub
ABOUT THE HEMPOLICS
Bringing organic, rootsy vibes back into music, reggae collective The Hempolics blend radio-friendly hooks with deep soundsystem bass. Formed in 2009 by producer Grippa Laybourne, the group features vocalists Nubiya Brandon and brothers Harry and Dan Collier.
Their breakout single, Serious, topped the 2010 UK reggae chart and won support from Massive Attack. Now backed by BBC6 Music, they continue winning fans with electric live shows.
