Audiopile Review: Titling an EP ‘The Grand Designer’ might suggest the artist has a bit of a god complex. But then, On-U Sound’s Adrian Sherwood (for it is he what done the titling) is undoubtedly one of the truly godlike figures to emerge from the UK’s punk-straddling, genre-inclusive 1970s underground. You might say he’s the godlike Peter Hammill of dub (we certainly would, obviously). There’s no doubt that Sherwood sounds like the master of his domain on ‘The Grand Designer’, which is the latest in On-U’s series of limited-edition 10” ‘disco plates’. It’s very much a solo release with Sherwood at the controls, driving four productions focused on heavy electronic beats. The closest precedents in the voluminous Sherwood discography might be African Head Charge’s classic ‘Songs of Praise’ or his post-dubstep collaborations with Pinch. Having said that this is very much Adrian Sherwood’s show, it’s worth noting that artists from his ever-revolving roster of On-U affiliates are surely in the mix. Most obviously, the late Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry chimes in from the hereafter on ‘Let’s Come Together’. And apparently, all this goodness is a taster for a full-length Sherwood solo album. Can’t wait!

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Adrian Sherwood returns with the mutating rhythmic soundscapes of The Grand Designer, a four track EP and the latest instalment in On-U Sound’s long-running and much-loved ‘disco plate’ series.

The title track and lead single is out today, and serves as a trailer for a forthcoming full-length album, with different instruments filtered through Sherwood’s bank of effects over an irresistible groove, and typically deft percussive detail.

“Let’s Come Together” flips the same rhythm into a mystical dub, with sadly departed friend and collaborator Lee “Scratch” Perry providing typically off-the-wall vocal interjections. It also serves as a reminder of the wealth of collaborative projects Sherwood has released in recent years, releasing critically acclaimed new albums not only with Perry, but also Horace Andy, Sonic Boom & Panda Bear, African Head Charge, Spoon, Creation Rebel, Pinch, and more.

“Russian Oscillator” perhaps cleaves closest to the Sherwood & Pinch records, experimental electronics weaving in and out of heavy sound system sonics and a ruffneck dancehall adjacent swing.

The EP closes with “Cold War Skank”, a left hand turn off the highway into scorched desert blues, distorted slide guitar patterns over widescreen film score atmospherics.

Available as a strictly limited and collectable 10″ vinyl, mastered and cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, housed in a classic On-U disco plate sleeve, with cover collage by Studio Tape-Echo.