Lee Scratch Perry's Vision of Paradise

Filmmaker Volker Schaner beefs up his profile of reggae producer and performer Lee “Scratch” Perry with almost as much commentary from famous admirers as from the subject. If Schaner were profiling a different artist, that might be a liability, but Perry has been speaking his own inscrutable language for years, so taking this tack is really for the best. Schaner catches up with the Jamaican native in his current home base of Switzerland, as he prepares for a U.S. tour. Perry—who alternates between wearing colorful wigs, knit caps, and a baseball cap—is a charismatic speaker, but his rhyming patois is difficult to understand, which make the animated segments here depicting his spiritual worldview a welcome addition. During filming, Perry records a track with the Orb, speaks with a British journalist, and performs with fellow producer Neil "Mad Professor" Fraser. Perry's music career sprang from his belief in Rastafarianism, which continues to inspire his work. At his Black Ark studio in Kingston, he helped local sensation Bob Marley become a global superstar. Perry also perfected the art of dub, a recording style that Mad Professor describes as "subtraction and extraction." After the loss of his studio to arson, Perry concentrated on performing and collaborating with younger acolytes, such as British producer Adrian Sherwood. As a biographical portrait, Vision of Paradise is short on detail, but it does offer an often humorous and stylish snapshot of Perry's mindset. Extras include audio commentary by Schaner, a “making-of” featurette, deleted scenes, a photo gallery, and a 24-page book. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)