Adrian Sherwood returns with his first music as a solo artist in 13 years with the mutating rhythmic soundscapes of The Grand Designer EP, the latest instalment in On-U Sound’s long-running and much-loved ‘disco plate’ series.
The title track serves as a trailer for a forthcoming full-length album, with different instruments filtered through Sherwood’s bank of effects over an irresistible groove, and typically deft percussive detail.
“Let’s Come Together” flips the same rhythm into a mystical dub, with sadly departed friend and collaborator Lee “Scratch” Perry providing typically off-the-wall vocal interjections. It also serves as a reminder that Sherwood has been far from idle since his last release under his own name: in recent years releasing critically acclaimed new albums with not only the Upsetter, but also Horace Andy, Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3) & Panda Bear (Animal Collective), African Head Charge, Spoon, Creation Rebel, Pinch and more.
“Russian Oscillator” perhaps cleaves closest to the Sherwood & Pinch records, experimental electronics weaving in and out of heavy sound system sonics and a ruffneck dancehall adjacent swing.
The EP closes with “Cold War Skank”, a left hand turn off the highway into scorched desert blues, distorted slide guitar patterns over widescreen film score atmospherics.
Available as a strictly limited and collectable 10″ vinyl, mastered and cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, housed in a classic On-U disco plate sleeve, with cover collage by Studio Tape-Echo.
