LargeUp Premiere: Lee “Scratch” Perry — “Stand In Love”

Words by Jesse Serwer–

Anyone with more than a passing familiarity with dancehall knows the name XTerminator. The record label and production house of the late Philip “Fattis” Burrell played a pivotal role in the careers of Capleton, Luciano, Beres Hammond and Buju Banton, and introduced the world to Sizzla.

Now re-branded as XTM.Nation under the direction of Fattis’ son, Kareem Burrell, the label is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the release of Living Heart, Vol. 1. The compilation album features previously unreleased music from Buju, Sizzla, Luciano, Ini Kamoze and others; new tunes from XTM artists Jesse Royal and Kayla Bliss; instrumental backing from Sly and Robbie, Earl “Chinna” Smith, Dean Fraser, Kirk Bennett and Donald Dennis; and a tribute to Fattis by his close friend, Beres, “Do It Now.”

One featured act on Living Heart, Vol. 1. that you might not associate with Xterminator is Lee “Scratch” Perry. The Upsetter recorded three tunes at the Xterminator studio on a visit Jamaica about a decade ago, says Kareem Burrell. “Stand In Love,” a vintage slice of Lee Perry wisdom and playfulness, is the first of these to see release.

“One day coming up from school oonuh, I drove into my driveway and I saw Mr. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry in my driveway,” Kareem recalls. “My father was building a studio at his house, recording the usual stable of artists-Sizzla, Turbulence, Chezidek, Lutan Fyah— and this particular day we had a surprise visitor, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. You could feel the aura from this man. Scratch, him have a love for Sizzla and Fattis, too.”

Stream “Stand In Love” below, and look out for more music from XTerminator/XTM.Nation, and Living Heart, Vol. 1 in this space soon.