Lee "Scratch" Perry — Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator)
Released in the year 1986, Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator) found the infamous & often highly creative reggae producer/artist offering up an eleven-track album. It blended together dense, instrumental detailed and entrancing production, with playful genre-blending- all topped with wacky at times stream-of-consciousness focused lyrics. Here from Doctor Bird- Cherry Red’s reggae sub-label, is a very much-deserved double CD reissue of the album- featuring a selection of fourteen bonus tracks, many never been released before on CD.
The two CDs come presented in a clear jewel case- this features a colourful sixteen-page booklet, taking in recollections from both Marcus Upbeat and Patrick Meads. The former both played on & arranged the record, and the latter was the label manager at Trojan Records- who originally released the album. We also get a great selection of pictures, studio paperwork, and vinyl labels.
Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator) was recorded in the year 1985 in Thamesside Studios, Rotherhithe, London. For the album, the lineup was as follows Lee "Scratch" Perry – Vocals, percussion, harmonica, and producer. Mark Downie (Marcus Upbeat) – rhythm guitar/synth, co-producer & cover artwork. Tarlok Mann – Lead Guitar. Russ Cummings – Keyboards. Marac (Spike) Kolodzinski – Bass. Kenneth (Peng) Smith – Drums. Lloyd Clarke – alto saxophone. Trevor Jones – trombone. Compared with his 70’s work, the sound here is often denser- and sitting more in the wider reggae sound, instead of just purely a dub release. Though this is of course reggae fed through the Perry filter, which adds in quirky production, wacky genre touches, and playful to brain-scrambling lyrics.
The first disc takes in the album's original twelve tracks- plus three different mixes of Perry’s festive song “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year”. The first half of the original album goes from “Drum song” which is an entrancing at points surreal blend of Cajun-like harmonica playing, churning-but-locked organ tones, subtle cymbal detail, and on /off rushing water sounds. Onto the honking ‘n’ jiving “Show Me That River” which mixes wavering horn work, warbling vocals, blues-tinged guitar struts, and hiss ‘n’ smarting percussion.
And in its second half we go from purring to lightly honking horn work, jiving keys, hovering bass tones, and steadily ranted stream-of-consciousness vocals of “ I Am A Madman”. There’s wavering ‘n’ cheek jive, snapping ‘n’ hissing beats, and wow-wowed guitar flow of “Happy Birthday”. With the album play with discordant junk clunk meets distant warbling horn, and layered vocal chant of “Time Marches On”. All in all Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator) is a most playful, yet heady album- which still sounds surprisingly undated, odd, and fresh.
As mentioned early the first disc is finished off with three versions of “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year”. The original track is a mellow snapping beat 'n' jiving keys affair with rise/ wavering female backing vocals- it’s ok, though feels like an attempt to get a festive hit. The different versions show slight differences, though after you’ve heard it three times it does become a tad tiring.
The second disc features eleven tracks- these go from twelve-inch to dub-up versions of album tracks, another three mixes of the of “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year”. There is one wholly new track here “Rainy Day In London” which is strutting bass ‘n’ guitar, hissing ‘n’ snapping beat detail, organ hover, and fairly passionate wailing vocals. The different versions of the tracks are ok I guess- with some playful production detail- though I’m not sure I'll be playing them a huge amount.
It’s certainly wonderful to see this two-disc release of Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator). I was very aware/ familiar with Mr Perry’s 60’s & 70’s output, but less so with his 80’s and beyond work- so it’s great to have/ hear this. I do hope we get more reissues of post 70’s Perry albums from Bird Doctor in the future