Chapter 2 of "Words" - Lee Perry & Friends

The 22 tracks on Chapter 2 of "Words" all date from 1972-1973, a period when Lee "Scratch" Perry was a sort of nomad, recording tracks at various studios and mixing them at King Tubby's. The music reflects this, varying widely in sound and feel, from the traditional to the far-out, from the heartfelt to the downright goofy. This lack of cohesion prevents Chapter 2 of "Words" from being completely satisfying, but the same can be said of many attempts to chronicle Perry's career, which has been as chaotic and confusing as it has been brilliant and prolific. Scratch devotees will be particularly interested in the link Chapter 2 of "Words" provides between his Upsetter Records era (circa 1970) and the rise of the Black Ark (1975). While Scratch still employs some of the basic techniques of his earlier records (in fact, I. Roy's "Dr. Who" is simply a DJ version of the 1969 Upsetters release "Medical Operation"), he exploits improving sound quality to put more emphasis on the bass and drums. This in turn permits him to drop other instruments out of the mix, rely less on vocals, and experiment with tape manipulations and sound effects, beginning his journey into the uncharted territory of dub. For a quick reminder of just how far ahead of his time Perry was, check out "Station Underground News," which employs both pseudo-rapping and a "sample" from the Chi-Lites' "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People," or the aptly named "Space Flight," with vocals by Scratch and I. Roy over a bed of hard rhythm and futuristic synth effects.