Not quite the best
Michael Dain | Chicago, Il USA | 06/14/2000
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Very dismissable effort from the early 80s with way too much emphasis on digi-drums and "slick" production taking place in the pseudo-ark of some studio in Copenhagen no doubt. The main gripe with this release is the lack of reference on the cover to the recording date or specifics. Since Trojan is probably aware how low Perry's 80's work is held in collectors esteem, it is a little fradulent that they packaged this as a "rare find" type of Perry release. Avoid unless 80's reggae is your cup of tea."
The missing link indeed...
supa-a | FI | 09/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like the one of the guys stated below, On The Wire is like a mix between the U-Sound reels and early 80`s material. I`m not even 50% sure about the references in the booklet about On The Wire tapes being lost since today, because David Katz doesn`t say a word about this album in his excellent People Funny Boy book. Perry would have mentioned the album to him, that`s for sure. It doesn`t sound like a set of random cuts or leftovers either, which makes it so much more confusing. This album is a tight, decent pack, yet not worth the 5 stars I gave it. I just feel the 1st reviewer wasn`t exactly aware of what`s going on here. Who DID expect rocksteady or dark dub from Scratch in `88?"
Not your typical Elephant Man!
Anthony Rue | Gainesville, FL USA | 08/15/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"On the wire is something of the missing link between "Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator)" and "Time Boom X De Devil Dread." The material will be familiar to Scratch fans who like his work with Adrian Sherwood and Dub Syndicate recorded for On U Sounds (although this one isn't an On U Sound production). The title track and Grim Reaper are both riddems that crop up on Dub Syndicate and Pay It All Back compilations. Sure, it isn't vintage Jamaican Black Ark, but it is part of the most creative period that Scratch had since he burned down the Ark-- certainly not the generic drek alluded to in an earlier Amazon review."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1