Scientist Meets the Space Invaders

by Stephen CookIn addition to boxing fellow engineer Prince Jammy, ridding the world of vampires, and winning the World Cup, Scientist used his early-'80s records to thematically battle computer game foes. But prior to taking on Pac-Man, Scientist first "met" the Space Invaders on this 1981 Greensleeves release. The cosmic theme is well served on ten effects-riddled tracks, with the rockers-style material being littered by all manner of stratosphere-breaking sounds from the mixing board. However, compared to the bustle of earlier efforts like Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires, Scientist Meets the Space Invaders comes off sounding lean and steely, strategically adorned with snatches of ghostly echo and pneumatic percussion; it's certainly an appropriate mood for a post-apocalyptic battle involving cartoon machines. And just below this incorporeal layer of sound is the fine and original production work of Linval Thompson (Scientist also mixed cuts by rival producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes) and the stellar playing of the Roots Radics band. A great dub title, which, like Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires, is one of Scientist's essential recordings.