Matthew Nerney Poop 2021


POOP 2021

Well, another bad year gone. It doesn’t feel like we learned much in 2021. The number of people in our country who are still Covid “deniers” is baffling to me. The Trump era is still affecting us in extremely worrying ways. I’m struggling to see a way forward where facts and logic are actual influences on decision making.

Unfortunately, all of the anxiety of our new reality seems to have fractured my thinking. I just can’t bring myself to the same level of engagement with music that I used to. I still listened to a lot of music this year, but I didn’t seem to make the same connections as I usually do. Still, there was a wealth of music that I loved and liked, and probably will engage with more (in a better future).

Additionally, this year saw the passing of a personal icon for me: Lee “Scratch” Perry. I can admit that for quite a few years I was obsessed with the little man who had such strange sounds bursting from his head. When he died in August at the age of 85, I was sad, but contemplative. I took about 3 months and obsessively (again) dove into the more than 75 titles I own of his productions and came away even more mystified and fanatical than I was before. Out of sheer celebration of his genius, I’ve included a (healthy) listing of my favourites of his work.

Sit Down I Think I Love You

Buy Nala Sinephro ~ Space 1.8 New or Used via Amazon
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Nala Sinephro ~ Space 1.8 : Melancholy yet luminous, intimate, yet somehow spaced, jazz.

Buy Villagers ~ Fever Dreams New or Used via Amazon
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Villagers ~ Fever Dreams : A highpoint in this consistently compelling artist’s catalogue.

Buy Darkside ~ Spiral New or Used via Amazon
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Darkside ~ Spiral : A moody nightmare trip through the twisting passages of a darkening mind.

Buy Damon Albarn ~ The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows New or Used via Amazon
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Damon Albarn ~ The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows : A beautiful meditation on place and how it impacts the human state.

Buy Jose Gonzalez ~ Local Valley New or Used via Amazon
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Jose Gonzalez ~ Local Valley : Still doing what he does, very well.

Buy Ishmael Ensemble ~ Visions of Light New or Used via Amazon
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Ishmael Ensemble ~ Visions of Light : A Bristol jazz ensemble that clearly embraces the 90’s roots of the city.

Buy Helado Negro ~ Far In New or Used via Amazon
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Helado Negro ~ Far In : A continuation of the mellow vibes, but with a fuller, more nuanced sound.

Buy Sufjan Stevens | Angelo de Augustine ~ A Beginner's Mind New or Used via Amazon
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Sufjan Stevens | Angelo de Augustine ~ A Beginner’s Mind : A return to Sufjan’s intricate, (mostly) acoustic sound that I love; a collaborator I’m not familiar with.

Buy Goat Girl ~ On All Fours New or Used via Amazon
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Goat Girl ~ On All Fours : The detached rage of millennials looking askance at a bleak future. These girls somehow manage to make it sound almost fun.

Buy Field Music ~ Flat White Moon New or Used via Amazon
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Field Music ~ Flat White Moon : The continuing story of the brothers Brewis.

Sedibus ~ The Heavens : A rose by any other name, or that of Alex Patterson & Andy Falconer (aka the Orb). A deep journey through time and space.

Soccer96 ~ Dopamine : Betamax and Danalogue from The Comet is Coming come up with what could be a soundtrack to a lost sci-fi cult classic (quite Flash Gordon).

Godspeed You! Black Emperor ~ G_d’s Pee at State’s End! : The soundtrack to our unfolding apocalypse, with a glimmer of hope in the chaos.

Robert Plant | Alison Krauss ~ Raise the Roof : Lightning strikes twice.

Radiohead ~ Kid A Mnesia : Essential albums by these titans of modern music. The bonus disc (the only reason I bought this) may seem slight to some, but I love this moody montage of Kid A / Amnesiac era outtakes and alternates.

What I Like About You

Haiku Salut ~ The Hill, The Light, The Ghost : field recordings / found sound vignettes.

Elori Saxl ~ The Blue of Distance : gorgeous, Glassian pulses.

BadBadNotGood ~ Talk Memory : cinematic, widescreen jazz.

Colleen ~ The Tunnel and the Clearing : monochrome meditations.

Grouper ~ Shade : distorted, hazy swells of angelic sound.

The Orb ~ Abolition of the Royal Familia [Guillotine Mixes] : more is better.

OSS ~ Enter the Kettle : even more Alex Patterson! Harder than the rest.

Mary Lattimore ~ Collected Pieces II : if you like the harp. Which I do.

Floating Points | Pharoah Sanders ~ Promises : minimal ambient patterns, with a very restrained Pharoah Sanders drifting over the top.

Balthazar ~ Sand : more of the soul-influenced sound, a little slicker than before.

Parannoul ~ To See the Next Part of the Dream : old-fashioned shoegaze. Good enough.

Dummy ~ Mandatory Enjoyment : I loved the lo fi quality of their previous EPs, but haven’t quite fallen in love with this bigger budget release yet.

Altered Hours ~ Convertible : very ‘80s / ‘90s English alternative rock.

IDLES ~ Crawler : Perhaps a bit more sombre than the last few albums, but still IDLES.

FACS ~ Present Tense : More anxiety-inducing, claustrophobic post-punk. Grim.

We’re Going To Be Friends

La Luz ~ La Luz
Rachika Nayar ~ Our Hands Against the Dusk
Rafael Toral | João Pais Filipe ~ Jupiter and Beyond
Transcendence Orchestra ~ All Skies Have Sounded
Arooj Aftab ~ Vulture Prince

Nat Birchall ~ Ancient Africa
James Brandon Lewis | Red Lily Quartet ~ Jesup Wagon
Natural Information Society ~ Descension (Out of Our Constrictions)
Rob Frye ~ Exoplanet
Anna Weber ~ Idiom

Alex Somers ~ Siblings Vol. 1 & 2
Claire Rousay ~ a softer focus
Bowerbirds ~ becalmyounglovers
Marconi Union ~ Signals
Growing ~ Diptych

Portico Quartet ~ Monument / Terrain
Sons of Kemet ~ Black to the Future
Emanative | Liz Elensky ~ The Volume of the Light
Sam Wilkes ~ One Theme & Subsequent Improvisations
Florian Zeisig ~ You Look So Serious

The Thrill is Gone

Richard Thompson ~ Serpent’s Tears (EP)
Brandee Younger ~ Somewhere Different
St. Vincent ~ Daddy’s Home
Clinic ~ Fantasy Island
Low ~ Hey What
Los Lobos ~ Native Sons
Nonconnah ~ Songs For and About Ghosts
Reigning Sound ~ A Little More Time With Reigning Sound
Sonic Boom ~ Almost Nothing Is Ever Enough (remixes)
Besnard Lakes ~ The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings

In Memoriam: Lee “Scratch” Perry

Lee “Scratch” Perry & Friends – Black Art from the Black Ark : Another sublime collection of Scratch’s work from the mid to late ‘70s at the Black Ark. Released just a month or so before his death by the fantastic Pressure Sounds label, who have found and compiled some of the rarest Black Ark productions over the years.

Lee “Scratch” Perry dub / instrumental / version albums : ranked [top 10]

1. Super Ape [JA mix] / [Int. mix]
2. Blackboard Jungle
3. Megaton Dub Vol. 1 & 2
4. Kung Fu meets the Dragon
5. Return of the Super Ape
6. Return of Wax
7. Revolution Dub
8. Chapter One
9. Battle Axe
10. Cloak & Dagger

Lee “Scratch” Perry produced group / dj albums : ranked [top 10]

1. Heart of the Congos [The Congos]
2. Police & Thieves [Junior Murvin]
3. War ina Babylon [Max Romeo]
4. Party Time [The Heptones]
5. Beat Down Babylon / Curly Locks [Junior Byles]
6. Conscious Man [The Jolly Brothers]
7. Colombia Collie [Jah Lion]
8. Ital Corner [Prince Jazzbo]
9. Silver Bullets [The Silvertones]
10. Soul Rebels / Soul Revolution [Bob Marley]

Lee “Scratch” Perry compilations / box sets : semi-chronological listing [25]

1. I Am the Upsetter [1968-1978](4 CD box set)
2. Shocks of Mighty [1969-1974]
3. Out of Many, the Upsetter [1970-1986]
4. Give Me Power [1970-1973]
5. Public Jestering [1970-1973]
6. Wizdom [1971-1975]
7. Truth and Wizdom [1971-1975]
8. Words of My Mouth [1973-1975]
9. Upsetter Shop Vol. 1 ~ Upsetter in Dub [1974-1977]
10. Upsetter Shop Vol. 3 ~ Baffling Smoke Signal [1976-1978]
11. Produced and Directed by the Upsetter [1973-1978]
12. The Sound Doctor [1973-1978]
13. Sound System Scratch [1973-1978]
14. The Return of Sound System Scratch [1973-1978]
15. Divine Madness … Definitely [1974-1978]
16. Voodooism [1975-1977]
17. Cutting Razor ~ Rare Cuts from the Black Ark [1974-1978]
18. The Black Ark Years ~ The Jamaican 7” singles [1974-1978](2 CD set)
19. Arkology [1975-1978](3 CD box set)
20. Roaring Lion [1975-1978]
21. Black Arkives [1973-1978]
22. Rastafari Liveth In the Heart of Everyone Itinually [1975-1978]
23. Open the Gate [1975-1978](2 CD set)
24. Build the Ark [1975-1978](2 CD set)
25. Larks from the Ark [1976-1978]

Lee “Scratch” Perry produced group / dj tracks : ranked [top 105]

1. Ark of the Covenant [extended mix] – the Congos
2. Tedious – Junior Murvin
3. War ina Babylon – Max Romeo
4. Rejoice Jah Jah Children – the Silvertones
5. Words of My Mouth – the Gatherers
6. Sodom and Gomorroh – the Congos
7. Sons of Slaves [extended mix] – Junior Delgado
8. Police and Thieves – Junior Murvin
9. Dub Organiser – Dillinger
10. You Can Run – the Hurricanes
11. Vibrate On [JA 7” mix] – Augustus Pablo
12. Ketch Vampire [extended mix] – Devon Irons
13. Open Up the Gate – the Congos
14. One Step Forward – Max Romeo
15. Sufferer’s Time – the Heptones

16. Travelling [extended mix] – Debra Keese & the Black Five
17. The Long Way – Junior Byles
18. Bushweed Corntrash – Bunny & Ricky
19. Flashing Whip – Jah Lion
20. Be Thankful [extended mix] – Bunny Clarke
21. Woman’s Gotta Have It [extended mix] – Jimmy Riley
22. Curly Locks – Junior Byles
23. Don’t Cross the Nation – Little Roy
24. A Place Called Africa – Junior Byles
25. Why Must I – the Heptones
26. Stand Up [remix] – Eric Donaldson
27. Better Future – Errol Walker
28. When Jah Come – Devon Irons
29. Fisherman – the Congos
30. Conscious Man [extended mix] – the Jolly Brothers

31. Congoman – the Congos
32. River – Zap Pow
33. Natural Mystic [dub plate] – Bob Marley
34. Groovy Situation [dub plate] – Keith Rowe
35. Backbiting – Winston Heywood
36. Freedom – Earl 16
37. Bike No Licence – Easton Clarke
38. I Man Free – Watty Burnett
39. Zion – the Flames
40. Three Blind Mice – Max Romeo
41. Demonstration – Junior Byles
42. Experience – Delroy Butler
43. No Peace – the Meditations
44. Know Love [extended mix] – Twin Roots
45. Down Here in Babylon [JA 7” mix] – Brent Dowe

46. Children Crying – the Congos
47. Cross Over [remix] – Junior Murvin
48. African Style – the Black Notes
49. Such Is Life – Lord Creator
50. Satta – Jah Lion
51. John Public – Errol Walker
52. Life is Not Easy – the Meditations
53. Nuh Fe Run It Down – Danny Clarke
54. Babylon Falling – the Heptones
55. Africa – the Hombres
56. Psalms 20 – James Booms
57. Come Along – the Bluebells
58. Long Long Time – Winston Heywood
59. At the Feast – the Congos
60. Roots Train [extended mix] – Junior Murvin & Dillinger

61. La La Bam Bam – the Congos
62. Much Smarter – the Meditations
63. Mr. Cop – Gregory Isaacs
64. Coming Again – Junior Byles
65. What a War – Watty Burnett
66. Tribal War – Little Roy
67. Herb Vendor – “Horsemouth” Wallace
68. Kung Fu Man – Linval Thompson
69. Time – the Gladiators
70. African Freedom – Brother Hood
71. Dread Dreader – the Jolly Brothers
72. I’ve Got a Feeling – Junior Byles
73. Soul Sister – the Silvertones
74. To Be a Lover – George Faith
75. Memories (extended mix) – Junior Murvin

76. Sick and Tired – Neville Grant
77. Da Da – Junior Byles
78. Rock Me In Your Soul – the Silvertones
79. Financial Crisis – the Silvertones
80. Perception – the Divine Brothers
81. 23rd Psalm – Juks Dreads & Big Youth
82. Judgement Day – Clive Hylton
83. Mash Down – the Roots
84. History – Carlton Jackson
85. Babylon a Fight Rasta – the Jolly Brothers
86. Stand Up [original JA 7” mix] – Eric Donaldson
87. False Teachin’ – Junior Murvin
88. Crying Over You – the Heptones
89. Storm Cloud – the Heptones
90. Norman – Max Romeo

91. In These Times – Errol Walker
92. Rasta Far I – Leroy Sibbles
93. I Do Love You – the Heptones
94. Life is a Funny Thing – the Ethiopians
95. Prophecy – the Ethiopians
96. Preacher Man – the Stingers
97. News Flash – Leo Graham
98. Rise and Shine – Watty & Tony
99. Ruffa Ruff – Horace Smart
100. Land of Love – Sons of Light
101. Open the Gate [extended mix] – Watty Burnett
102. Mistry Babylon [extended mix] – the Heptones
103. Garden of Life – Leroy Sibbles
104. Ethiopian Land – Peter & Paul
105. Chase the Devil – Max Romeo

Lee “Scratch” Perry dub / instrumental / version tracks : ranked [top 105]

1. Noah Sugar Pan
2. Tedious Dub
3. Bird in Hand
4. Natural Dub
5. Vamp a Dub
6. Dub Fu Ya Rights
7. Long Time Dub
8. Three Times Three
9. Foundation Dub
10. Revelation Dub
11. Such is Dub
12. Future Dub
13. Right Ya
14. Vibrator
15. Cloak & Dagger [horns dub plate]

16. Black Panta
17. African Style
18. River Stone
19. Mr. Dubz [dub plate]
20. I’ve Got the Dub [dub plate]
21. Nyambie Dub
22. Sons of Dub
23. Emotional Dub
24. Rootically Dub
25. Pride [dub plate]
26. Grumblin’ Dub
27. Dubism
28. Unlicensed Dub
29. Dub Stand
30. Return of the Super Ape

31. Corn Fish Dub
32. Groovy Dub
33. Dub Stand
34. Ruffa Dub
35. Conscious Man Dub
36. Shepherd Rod
37. Chastising Dub
38. When Jah Dub
39. Corn Picker Dub
40. Prophet Dub [Satta]
41. Vampire Dub [horns mix dub plate]
42. Crying Dub
43. Longer Dub [dub plate]
44. Crab Yars
45. To Be a Lover Dub

46. Zion [version]
47. Perceptive Dub
48. Brother Dub
49. Tighten Up [version]
50. China Man Dub
51. Free Man Dub
52. Proverbs of Dub
53. Dub History
54. White Belly Dub
55. Ethiopian Dub
56. Fisherman Dub
57. Dub Along
58. Shining Dub
59. What a Dub
60. Dub Organiser [version]

61. No Peace Dub
62. Not Easy Dub
63. In These Times Dub
64. Deep & Deadly [dub plate]
65. Dem Know No Dub
66. Living in Dub
67. Rocky Road Dub
68. Freedom Street Dub
69. Warning Dub
70. Version Train
71. Much Smarter Dub
72. Rasta Dub
73. Curly Dub
74. Revolution Dub
75. One Step Dub

76. Jungle Lion
77. Elephant Rock
78. Words of My Mouth [version]
79. Bush Weed
80. Rejoicing Skank
81. Going Home Dub
82. Enter the Dragon
83. Flames of the Dragon
84. The Dragon Enters [aka Natty Pass Through Rome dub]
85. Kung Fu Warrior
86. Big Boss [aka Experience Dub)
87. Judgement Dub
88. Judgement Day
89. Kiss Me Neck [version]
90. Jucky Skank [dub plate]

91. Dyon Dub [dub plate]
92. Groove Dubber [dub plate]
93. Fun and Dub
94. Flashing Echo
95. Lovers Skank
96. V/S Bad Walking
97. Sharp Razor V/S
98. V/S Panta Rock
99. Drum Rock
100. Side Gate
101. Fungaa
102. Black Belt
103. Iron Fist
104. 23rd Dub
105. Anaswa Dub

Lee “Scratch” Perry vocal tracks : ranked [top 30]

1. Roast Fish & Cornbread [extended mix]
2. Dreadlocks in Moonlight
3. White Belly Rat
4. Justice to the People
5. I Am a Dreadlocks
6. Black Man Time
7. Stay Dread
8. Kentucky Skank
9. Curly Dub
10. City Too Hot
11. Bionic Rats
12. Tell Me Something Good
13. Water Pump
14. You Crummy
15. So You Come, So You Go

16. Soul Fire
17. Dreader Locks
18. Bury the Razor
19. Rasta Train
20. What a Sin
21. Baffling Smoke Signal
22. People Funny Boy
23. People Sokup Boy
24. Wind Up Doll
25. Finger Mash
26. Set Them Free
27. Public Jestering
28. Evil Tongues
29. Psyche & Trim
30. Jah Jah a Natty Dread