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SOUND SYSTEM SCRATCH CD: Pressure Sounds PSCD68 LP: Pressure Sounds PSLP68 2010 |
For more than 30 years, dub plates – exclusive, one-of-a-kind mixes for sound systems – have been a "hidden" part of reggae's history. Although Lee Perry's distinctive, eccentric productions from the Black Ark stood outside of the reggae mainstream, Scratch produced many dub plates between 1973 - 1979, creating exclusive, mind-bending mixes that have never been heard since. Sound System Scratch features 20 Black Ark dub plates as well as a treasure trove of rare photographs and informative sleeve notes by well-known reggaeologist Jeremy Collingwood. Although Scratch fans will certainly be familiar with these rhythms through their single releases, the mixes on Sound System Scratch are complete weirdo, outer space dubwise madness. While the sound quality on these esoteric dub plates vary, their extremely rare status outweighs any moaning that audiophiles might make about their quality. Sound System Scratch is certainly a very unique and special collection, but it must be said that some of the material falls under the number one rule of record collecting: just because it's rare, it doesn't mean that it's good. At times more of a museum display than a reggae collection, Sound System Scratch is nevertheless a fascinating piece of Black Ark history lovingly restored by the good people at Pressure Sounds. All of these songs will be a revelation even to the most hardcore Scratch fans. It is perhaps the most unique Lee Perry collection ever released. |