Mad-Man Perry is no stranger to nonsensical lyrics so when the playful and horn heavy "Scratch is alive" started with "bomb government/police/soldiers Shazam!" and then moved from there to the "government get F---ed" in a manner similar to the eples and benenes song by Rafi I almost didn't notice the need to edit the song for airplay. This combination of danceable and characteristically oddball sound with harsh political criticism and rasta ideology runs throughout the album.The newest release from the prolific producer dropped on September 23rd. The scathing criticism of United States economics could not have been better timed if it had been an overnight dubplate. An album containing the song "Heavy Voodoo", a track condemning dangerous and deceitful economic policies, hit the shelves less than a week after the Congressional bailout plan proposal. Hugo Chavez is not the only one laughing at the dropping dow.
The album has the solid beats and mad man vocal interstitials expected of The Upsetter, and the heavily produced techno pop sound that has come to characterize his newer albums. I am going to see Scratch perform in New York next week and his dance beat album "Repentance" released only two months ago had me wondering if i would recognize the new style of one of Jamaica's best producers. But tracks like "Having a party", "Saint Sellasie", and "Scratch is alive" reassured me that despite his continually evolving sound, Scratch is not going to leave reggae behind anytime soon.
Lee "Scratch" Perry
"Having a Party" (mp3) from "Scratch Came, Scratch Saw, Scratch Conquered"
(Megawave)
Buy at Rhapsody
Read more at Rudeboy Dubplate
2 comments:
Well I have to admit that I am quite jealous that you know how to put up links and pictures and music all on your blog! I have so much to learn... And I definitely dig some of your titles to your blogs. But Pam is right, the word "Proffesional" in your title does make me laugh. But the rest of your blog kicks butt so kudos!
Apparently, my first comment was not posted? Although you have already read it and we have discussed some of the material, I will be "re-commenting". I just wanted to mention that I enjoyed this little post about Lee "Scratch" Perry. Being perfectly honest, I am not very familiar with his work. However, I do support reggae and dance hall music. There is a CD I have been enjoying called Johnny Greenwood is the Controller. It is a compilation of his favorite reggae artists and tracks. Let me know if any of the artists have good solo albums. Here is the track list:
"Dread Are the Controller" - Linval Thompson
"Let Me Down Easy" - Derrick Harriott
"I'm Still in Love (12" mix)" - Marcia Aitken
"Never Be Ungrateful (12" mix)" - Gregory Isaacs
"Bionic Rats" - Lee "Scratch" Perry
"Cool Rasta" - The Heptones
"Flash Gordon Meets Luke Skywalker" - Scientist & Jammy & The Roots Radics
"Black Panta" - Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters
"Fever" - Junior Byles
"Beautiful and Dangerous" - Desmond Dekker & the Aces
"Dread Dub (It Dread Out Deh Version)" - Lloyd's All Stars
"Gypsy Man" - Marcia Griffiths
"A Ruffer Version" - Johnny Clarke & the Aggrovators
"Right Road to Dubland (Right Road to Zion Dub)" - The Jahlights
"Dreader Locks" - Junior Byles & Lee Perry
"This Life Makes Me Wonder" - Delroy Wilson
"Clean Race" - Scotty
Let me know.
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