Gig review: Lee '˜Scratch' Perry and Mad Professor at Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Some artists have such weighty reputations they start to define and, at worst, confine them.

Take Lee Perry as an example. The veteran Jamaican producer and songwriter’s eccentric behaviour (burning down his legendary Kingston studio the Black Ark ranks high on an illustrious list of unfathomable acts), peculiar pronouncements (vampires and Babylon have tended to feature prominently) and insatiable taste for oddness (sporting a mirrored hat, hair dyed red and a coat sinking under the weight of decals, those expecting Perry to uphold his habit for outlandish wardrobe choices aren’t let down tonight) have accrued such a legendary status that some might well demand their money back if the septuagenarian many refer to as ‘Scratch’ came on stage and did a controlled, professional set.

That is most certainly not the case tonight. Following a spirited set of live mixing from the Mad Professor, the band launch into Max Romeo’s timeless classic Chase The Devil, produced and co-written by Perry during his creative peak in the 70s, when he managed to cook up complex soundscapes with primitive equipment, transforming dub into a vibrant art form in the process.