Scientist: Scientist Encounters Pac-Man Vinyl LP

Another in the long line of Scientist’s theme based dub albums, this is probably the rarest to find on an original Greensleeves issue. The rhythms are some of that early eighties hidden roots shit, the harder Radics stuff that was bubbling under their popular dancehall style. Scientist’s drum crashes are pretty out of hand all over the record, but he brings the extra pain on “The Prince’s Wrath” over a version of Barrington’s “Don’t Give Up”. “Dark Secret of the Box” on the b-side reworks the same riddim, this time with the summertime guitar licks included. Both tracks wicked in their own right. “Vampire Initiative” comes pretty hard with the dubbed out vocal intro and tough bass Scientist is so well known for. It’s Scientist doing what he does best throughout the album- consistently interesting riddims, officially rough treatments. No sleeping dub here, Pacman is one of his best. Now repressed by Russia’s Dublabel on high quality vinyl pressing with glossysleeve printing.

• music label: Green Sleeves 1982 / Dub 2014

reviewed by the mgmnt 07/2015