Native - Rockstone

In A Black Ark Mood

Reviewed by Seb on September 02, 2007

It's always with impatience that we await the latest Pressure Sounds album, particularly on this occasion as this release includes unpublished songs recorded at Black Ark in 1977.

Wayne Jobson (who started the bands Native and Little Madness) relates how he first met Lee Perry :
« One night in August 1977 Boris Gardiner took me on a trip to see Lee 'Scratch' Perry at his Black Ark Studio in the Washington Gardens section of Kingston. The Black Ark was like a medieval space station with Scratch at the controls voicing the U.K. artist Robert Palmer [...] After the session I got up enough courage to tell Scratch that I had some songs to play for him on my acoustic guitar. He listened and then declared I want to work with you because you are an Arawak Indian!' I assured him that I was an Arawak Indian (of course I am not) and he said to come back in a few days to record »

We are immediately in the Black Ark atmosphere. The seven tracks (from the 12 enclosed in this release) recorded in the mythical Lee Perry's studio project us in this typical sound field which made the reputation of the brilliant producer.

The songs are very well-crafted (Rockstone, Late September In May) but it's Lee Perry's particular recording and mixing technique that gives them a unique spice. We recognise the exceptional and bewitching sound that leaves no one unmoved, reggae lover or not, and we instantly remember the special moment when we first heard records like Super Ape, Blackboard Jungle Dub or Open The Gate.

The other songs of this compilation recorded at Channel One or Randy's studios (Black Tracks, Great God Over Zion) are all worthy of inclusion and highlight Wayne Jobson's voice. This is a great album that any Lee Perry productions fanatic wouldn't want to miss, but also one that will appeal to any 1975-77 Roots Reggae lover.

Seb - Roots Archives, September 2007
Edited by Leggo Rocker