Lee Scratch Perry & The Upsetter The Black Album 2 Vinyl LPs (Vocals and Dubs)

Lee Scratch Perry  THE BLACK ALBUM

At 83 years of age, Lee Scratch Perry is proud to present to the world his next full length solo album (with Dub versions) , continuing his inimitable Roots Reggae legacy.

Some background…Around 1988 you had reissues of Roast Fish Collie Weed and Cornbread and Return of the Super Ape on Upsetter, these were authorised  by Lee and produced by Jet Star.

These were the last officially sanctioned Upsetter label releases until Lee and Daniel produced “Back on the Controls” in 2014/15 which was nominated for a Grammy. Now they have teamed up again for the only other post Ark release on Lee’s label, The Black Album.

Lee’s brief for the album, was to blend the vintage and the obscure, during the sessions Lee referred to the sound and ‘black’ and wanted space, light and darkness in the songs and their respective Dub versions.

The result sees Lee having mixed up an analogue concoction of ultra-rare effects, Sonic wizardry and deep heavy roots rhythms.

Over 2017 and 2018, Lee Scratch Perry re united with Producer and Mixer Daniel Boyle, to start work on their second Solo album project for Lee.

Picking up where their last efforts ‘’Back on the Controls’’ left off. Lee wanted to continue the raw analogue sound they had cultivated together over multiple past releases, and take it to the next level with new effects devices to create another sonic signature.

They entered the studio in 2017, to begin to put together ideas for the tracks, which were then taken to RAK studios in London with their ever changing Rolling Lion All Stars session band; to lay down the rhythm versions.

Using strictly vintage analogue equipment, they employed Neuman valve and RCA Ribbon microphones, and RAK’s early model vintage API desk to record, the ‘sound’ for the album was sculpted in these sessions.

Vintage, but punchy, which was then blended with Lee’s choice of super rare and custom analogue effects. Ursa Major Space Station and Stargate delays and reverbs, old choruses, Plate and spring reverbs, and tape delays were used to create a tight vintage feel but retaining the rawness of the ‘Low Fi’ roots sound Lee was aiming for.

With the music coming together, the vocal sessions were held in Abbey Road studio 3, again using vintage RCA ribbon mics, over driving their EMI TG console and Fairchild compressors to create a pleasantly distorted Lo Fi vocal sound.

Lee and Daniel then returned to Daniels Rolling Lion Studio, to mix and Dub the album, live, on the mixing console.

‘Rolling Lion All Stars’ Musicians: Vocals: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry Drums: Ed West Bass & Guitar: Hughie Izachaar Keys: Robbie Lynn Additional Keys: Calvin Bennion Percussion: Daniel Boyle Kete Drum: Mathias Liengme Hurdy Gurdy: Brian McCoy Horn Section: Rory Sadler, Robert Landen Melodica: Puraman Backing Vocals:

Recorded at RAK & Abbey Road.

Mixed at Rolling Lion Studio. Produced, Arranged, Engineered and Mixed by Daniel Boyle.

Executive producer: Chris Durning

Rhythm tracking assistant engineer: Steph Marzino

Vocal tracking assistant engineer: Jason O’Bryan

Mastered by: Sam John at Precise Mastering

Tracks on the 2 LPs