Omar Perry was named after the acclaimed actor Omar Sharif and is the second son of the whirlwind that was reggae’s final ‘Upsetter’ – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. Nonetheless, Omar wants no such hyperlinks to make his mark – which he does but once more on this glorious 9-track launch entitled ‘Channelling Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’.
As defined within the pleasant 12-page booklet accompanying the discharge, Omar is the second son of the aforementioned Lee, who was ‘past query, a real genius chargeable for creating a few of the biggest, most advanced and thought-provoking music to ever come out of Jamaica .. or wherever else’.
Following within the footsteps of a genius father will be difficult. Nonetheless, on this ‘Channelling’ launch, Omar can take satisfaction in the truth that he has totally exploited his personal appreciable span of musical skills to superb impact. Therefore, it’s little surprise that this former ambassador for reggae in Gambia – now situated in Belgium – ought to floor because the torchbearer for the Perry household’s reggae legacy. Given such a big legacy, one can solely say: lengthy could he final!
This tribute-type album opens with a pleasing jog by way of the heavenly haunting ‘Time Increase’ monitor, reminiscent of the elder’s bizarre, fantastic, and broadly acclaimed album ‘Time Increase X De Satan Useless’. The monitor – like a lot of the album – is delightfully adorned with chic backing vocals from Anne Foesser, as Omar displays on mortality issues, while rightly urging the listener to ‘reside whilst you can’. An interesting side of this monitor – if not the entire album – is that it’s obvious that the ‘apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree’, as Omar’s vocal inputs might simply be mistaken for these of his wizard papa Lee.
Subsequent up, the righteousness of a Rastafarian comes by way of loud and clear in ‘Depraved Again Deh’, which is splendidly properly embellished by Gangloff’s drum accompaniment solo, earlier than ‘Magnetic Lights’ maintains the righteous theme by way of a scorching steppin’ quick-fire rap model tempo supply, with Omar warning that he’s ‘coming for you’. As is his wont, Omar then reveals a candy sensitivity, with a monitor for the romantics in ‘Key To Your Coronary heart’, as Gangloff (but once more) marshals the music with some strong percussion and association.
Thereafter, the delightfully bouncy ‘Pied Piper’ kicks in to ‘defend Mom Nature .. earlier than it’s too late’, as Omar rows in on the new subject that’s the damaging human contribution to local weather change. Confirming that his glass is half full (versus half empty!), Omar then unleashes ‘Wah See No Foe’, declaring that he needs neither ‘backstabbing’ nor ‘unhealthy man’ in his life. The tempo then picks up once more as he returns to the theme of romance, with a monitor that features a fascinating and catchy refrain referred to as ‘Lovers Paradise’, as Omar confirms that ‘love is the one means’ – too true. The album’s penultimate monitor, entitled ‘Weh Dem A Strive’, is a pacey piece that touches on the shortcomings of adopting a detrimental strategy to – or taking the legal path in – life earlier than issues are dropped at an in depth by way of ‘Backyard Develop’, which is a monitor that cleverly attracts on the well-known ‘Mary, Mary, Fairly Opposite’ nursery rhyme.
This album is professionally produced by way of the intensive and appreciable ability set of percussionist Olivier Gangloff, whose Strasbourg-based Straightforward Riddim Maker (ERM) band turned Lee Perry’s official touring group in Europe and his collaborators on the well-received ‘Humanicity’ album in 2013. Gangloff and his gifted staff additionally aided the nice Upsetter in what proved to be his final album referred to as ‘Heaven’, which was launched in 2023.
Surely, the ‘Channelling Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’ album continuously hits celestial heights – which isn’t simply accomplished with no brass part – and will be precisely and pretty described as a cracker of a contribution from a celebrated, elegant, and competent artist and his gifted ERM fellow vacationers. Certainly, all can relaxation assured that as he surveys the scene from Heaven, Daddy will probably be properly happy together with his ‘channeling’. So additionally, ought to the plenty, when this combo treats us to a good dollop of the album’s tracks on the competition circuit this coming summer season. Convey it on I say!
Tracklisting:
1. Time Increase (4:04)
2. Depraved Again Deh (4:46)
3. Magnetic Lights (3:57)
4. Key To Your Coronary heart (4:01)
5. Pied Piper (3:21)
6. Wah See No Foe (3:29)
7. Lovers Paradise (3:58)
8. Weh Dem A Strive (4:08)
9. Backyard Develop (2:24)
Format: LP & CD
Label: www.secretrecordsltd.com Burning Sounds
Launch Date: March seventh , 2025
Omar Perry and the Straightforward Riddim Maker band play London’s famed Jazz Café on Sat.
March 8 th subsequent.
By Gerry McMahon for ipromiseyoumedia.com
