Liner Note Author: Elena Oumano.

A truly unique artist, reggae icon Lee "Scratch" Perry is best known for his production innovations, which resulted in the creation of the echo-laden "dub" style. Although he worked with Bob Marley & the Wailers, the Heptones, and many other acts, Perry was also a compelling, though undeniably weird, performer in his own right, a point hit home by this 12-track collection.

Perry's bizarre sense of humor and equally odd sonic aesthetic are immediately apparent on the gonzo opening tune, "People Funny Boy," which features a crying-baby sample, a strange strumming noise, and Perry's typically nonsensical lyrics. In fact, listening to this set is like stepping into a reggae funhouse, with everything playfully distorted. "Jungle Lion" is pure aural ridiculousness, filled with snippets of familiar melodies and rambunctious bursts of booming vocals (including Perry's own growling sounds), while "Bucky Skank" and "Bush Weed" are examples of slinky, mesmerizing dub at its finest. Though there are many excellent Perry compilations on the market, this CRUCIAL REGGAE installment stands out as a concise testament to the man's own thoroughly tweaked and highly inventive vision.