On-U Sound announce new reissues of early 90s classics by one of their flagship artists, the much-missed Dub Syndicate
A follow-up to the Ambience In Dub boxset that anthologised the early Dub Syndicate albums, “Out Here On The Perimeter 1989 - 1996” picks up the story in the late 1980s with Style Scott coming to the forefront of the project as bandleader and co-producer, and the group emerging as a live entity. This was also the period of their greatest popularity, with a much-loved series of albums that combined the best of Jamaican musicianship with the wild studio experimentation of UK production maverick Adrian Sherwood, resulting in music that appealed to ravers and dreads alike.
Four albums are being repressed on vinyl, with faithful reproductions of the beautiful original sleeve artwork, and new inner sleeves containing detailed liner notes and archival photos. Sherwood has also concocted a special bonus album, of brand new version excursions on rhythms from the period. A CD boxset anthologises all five albums.
Dub Syndicate was initially one of the many studio-based projects masterminded by Adrian Sherwood in the early days of his genre-blurring independent label On-U Sound. Built around deep and heavy reggae rhythms, and marshalling the talents of a revolving cast of Jamaican and British musicians. It evolved over time to become the main musical vehicle of Lincoln Valentine Scott aka Style Scott (also notable for his work with the Roots Radics and Creation Rebel), mirroring the trajectory of Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah of labelmates African Head Charge. Often Style would lay down backing tracks in Kingston, Jamaica, sending the tapes to the UK so Adrian could arrange overdubs and work his mixing board magic when the tapes arrived in London. In addition to many much-loved studio albums such as Stoned Immaculate, Dub Syndicate also became a barnstorming live act and a staple of the festival circuit. Tragically, on 9 October 2014 Style Scott was senselessly murdered in his home in Jamaica. An irreplaceable and unique musical talent is gone, but his music will live on forever.
The albums included in the reissue campaign are:
“Strike The Balance” (1989) The group’s first album in four years. Originally released in 1989, and coinciding with the beginnings of Dub Syndicate as a touring unit.
“Stoned Immaculate” (1991) Probably the best known Dub Syndicate album, this 1991 set was recorded between Jamaica and London.
“Echomania” (1993) Classic Dub Syndicate album that sees drummer "Style" Scott and bassist "Flabba" Holt, bedrock of the mighty Roots Radics, holding together the monstrous rhythms, while Adrian Sherwood works his magic at the controls.
“Ital Breakfast” (1996) Style Scott gathers crack Jamaican players together for the rhythms, featuring musicians who between them had done time in the likes of the Roots Radics, Soul Syndicate, Joe Gibbs’ Professionals, and Bunny Lee’s Aggrovators.
“Obscured By Version” (2025) A brand new set of Dub Syndicate ‘versions’ utilising rhythms from their classic 89 - 96 period. Adrian Sherwood has gone back to the original tapes, working his mixing desk magic to find new angles on the timeless pulse of Lincoln Valentine “Style” Scott, with fresh overdubs from Cyrus Richard (Dub Asante Band). Features new dubs of tracks originally found on albums such as Time Boom X De Devi Dead and Stoned Immaculate. A fitting tribute to the long running creative partnership and friendship between Sherwood and Scott.
