Back catalogue: Roots/Lovers Rock

Review: The last album the mighty Lee Scratch Perry recorded before he died was Heaven, freshly released on Burning Sounds and leaving us with a lasting memory of his indelible influence on modern music. To accompany the full-length, the label have picked the versions of two album tracks and given them an airing on a standalone 12", cut nice and loud for the dance. 'Shining Dub' takes up the A side, and 'Shut Up Dub' takes the flip, and both dive deep into the echo chamber style Perry himself helped pioneer so many decades prior.

Review: Lee "Scratch" Perry, a Jamaican record producer, singer, and songwriter, is largely acclaimed for his innovative and experimental production techniques. His Black Ark Studio, established in the mid-1970s, became a renowned hub for reggae music production, fostering the talents of numerous artists. Perry's Black Ark studio was not merely a recording space but an alchemic laboratory where he conjured sonic masterpieces. With his use of tape loops, heavy reverb, and other unorthodox techniques, Perry created a distinct and hypnotic sound that transcended conventional reggae boundaries. Artists such as Bob Marley, the Wailers, and Max Romeo flocked to Black Ark to collaborate with Perry. In his studio, Perry's intuitive approach to music making blurred the lines between producer and artist. He considered himself a "musical doctor" whose role was to guide and inspire the musicians. The Black Ark became a sanctuary for musical experimentation, where artists were encouraged to explore their creativity freely. This vinyl has been out of print and completely unavailable until now.

Review: In 1985, Lee 'Scratch' Perry returned to Trojan Records for a new album, Battle Of Armageidon, in which he laid freshly-trodden musical ground at the label's feet. Taking after then increasingly-popular dub and reggae artists at the time, such as Scientist, Perry's music was becoming increasingly grandiose and psychedelic, having teamed up with rhythm guitarist and synth player Mark Downie in forming his new band. Long regarded as among Perry's most wild and unpredictable projects, this reissue brings the album to CD for the first time, and isn't for the faint of heart or uncurious of soul.

Review: Two and a half years on from his death, Lee 'Scratch' Perry's "final album" - for the avoidance of doubt, it's the last one he recorded - arrives. Given his history of sonic innovation, it's striking that King Perry sees he late dub titan applying his dub aesthetic (with a little help from producer Daniel Boyle and a string of guest vocalists) to a wide variety of contemporary styles. Elements of synthwave, drum & bass, big beat and electronica are thrown into the mix, with his ten-ton basslines, dub effects, reggae riffs and freewheeling vocals rooting it in his extensive musical history. Highlights include breakbeat-driven Greentea Peng collaboration '100 Llbs of Summer', the Meat Beat Manifesto-ish 'Green Banana' (where Shaun Ryder does a typically distinctive turn on lead vocals) and closer 'Goodbye', which features Perry's last recorded vocal performance.

Review: Being the prolific maverick he was known and loved for, we're still catching up with the output of the mighty Lee Scratch Perry long after his passing. Amongst the posthumous releases coming to light of late is this album on Tricky's False Idols label, in which Perry linked up with UK producer Daniel Boyle for a follow-up to their double hits of Back At The Controls and Black Album. It's a wide-ranging affair taking the dub approach to many different genres, with some noticeable contributions from artists like Greentea Peng, Shaun Ryder and Tricky himself. It's another fine reminder of what a gift of inspiration Perry was to the world of music, restlessly creative well into his later years.

Review: Dub innovator, celebrated smoker of the herb and much-loved nutter Lee Scratch Perry has been gone a while now but his musical legacy will never fade. Partly, of course, because he made so damn much of it during a prolific career, most of it at his own iconic Black Arc studios. Not so much of it was solo work but Heaven is, and is also the final album he wrote before passing in late 2021. His contribution to Jamaican music knows no bounds and took the form of him being producer, arranger, writer and artist. His unique take on the island's signature sound is present and correct here.

Review: The final Lee 'Scratch' Perry album is bittersweet but here for us to enjoy and pay our respect. The highly influential icon who passed away in 2021 was a groundbreaking artist to many. One of his last steps may have been to bridge the dub and hip-hop community better like only he could try. Step in Bob Riddim (Coincidentally a great name!) who performed many of the instruments here has the experience background to equal Perry's desire. Destiny is the result of this unique collaboration. Expect an album that catapults both of the artists to a higher level of expression. There is some irony that Destiny is the tribute to Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Review: 'Open The Gate' is a 1989 box set of Lee 'Scratch' Perry's most enduring productions, involvements and features until that date - most of which were laid down at his legendary yet ramshackle recording studio Black Ark. These were the tunes that cemented Perry's name as an oddball, prodigal, outsider producer; classics including 'Words', plus The Upsetters' versions of their contemporaries The Heptones' tracks Babylon Falling and Mistry Babylon, all appear.

Review: The "Disco Devil" series is a carefully curated selection of disco mixes that were laid down in the famous Black Ark Studio run by Lee "Scratch" Perry. It was a place of legendary magic, as this series shows on its fourth instalment. All the big dogs like The Upsetters, Augustus Pablo and Junior Murvin are present with their own distinctive takes on dub. Carlton Jackson also comes correct with his soul soothing "History" while a special 7" edit of Truth Fact & Correct's "Babylon Deh Pon Fire" is a rousing anthem for serious smoking sessions.