In Berlin, dub pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry collaborated with German electronic duo Mouse on Mars during intensive sessions in 2021. Following Perry's death in August of that year,the unfinished project was completed and released via Domino Records.

The 83-year-old's defiance of the three-hour studio limit

During the 2021 sessions in Berlin, Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma of Mouse on Mars implemented strict protocols to protect the health of the 83-year-old Lee "Scratch" Perry.. According to the report, the duo intended to limit Perry to just three hours of work per day and maintained a strict environment free from drugs and alcohol.

Despite these precautions, Lee "Scratch" Perry displayed a relentless creative energy that bypassed the intended schedule. the report notes that Perry frequently worked from the morning straight through until the early hours of the following day, showing an eagerness to continue sessions even when health concerns were raised.

Louis Chude-Sokei's role in the eight-track Domino Records release

The decision to finish the project was not an easy one for Mouse on Mars following the death of Lee "Scratch" Perry in August 2021. The duo initially grappled with whether it was appropriate to complete the recordings without the legendary producer present in the studio.

Writer Louis Chude-Sokei eventually provided the necessary encouragement to move forward, emphasizing the historical significance of the recordings. His intervention helped facilitate the completion of the eight-track album, which has since been released on Domino Records as a final testament to Perry's career.

The intersection of Caribbean dub and European electronic textures

The collaboration between Lee "Scratch" Perry and Mouse on Mars represents a significant convergence of distinct musical traditions. By merging Caribbean sound system culture with the experimental electronic innovations of the German duo, the album creates a unique sonic landscape.

This project is being positioned by observers as a crucial document of Afrofuturism and Black technopoetics. The fusion of Perry's dub reggae roots with the electronic textures of Mouse on Mars offers a profound look at how genre-defying production can bridge different cultural histories.

The mystery of the unnamed Berlin collaborators

While the album is now available to the public, several details regarding the comunal nature of the Berlin sessions remain unverified. As reported by the source, the sessions attracted numerous visitors and collaborators, turning the studio into a celebration of Perry's legacy, yet the specific identities of these participants were not disclosed.

Furthermore , it remains unclear how much of the final Domino Records release was shaped by the original 2021 vision versus the posthumous adjustments made to the tracks . The source does not provide the perspective of the other collaborators who were present during these intense four days in Berlin .