Ariwa Sounds: The Early Sessions

If one were to reduce Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser’s genius to a single moment, see how he took a scatted chant from Aisha’s 1986 single “The Creator” and dubbed it into the hook for the “FFWD Into Dub” b-side (credited to Fraser’s handle, Mad Professor). “Owaaawaawowaowawow” would then become the foundation of ambient house when The Orb sampled it, setting the table for the playful electronic music decades ahead. But that’s reductive, as Mad Professor was not only an early producer of choice UK lover’s rock but also collaborated with the likes of Sade, Lee Perry, and Massive Attack, a master of maximal dub mischief.

This compilation traces the Mad Professor back to his humble beginnings, conjuring bonkers sounds from a four-track set up in his sitting room in South London, inviting singers and toasters to come through. So you get boinging UFO sounds amid the heartfelt vocals of Deborah Glasgow’s “My Thing,” the floor perpetually sliding away from Sergeant Pepper on “Special Brew.” And then there’s that tough drum beat to match Ranking Ann’s no-bullshit delivery on “Moonlight Lover,” wherein Fraser slowly lets the drums grow bigger until they devour everything in sight.