Becoming A Cliché

Liner notes

Where the first ‘solo’ album was mainly instrumental, Becoming A Cliche features an ever-impressive range of vocal guests: the late, great Bim Sherman, reggae multi-instrumentalist Dennis Bovell, Little Roy, Lee ‘LSK’ Kenny, Tunisian-French singer Samia Farah, Italian rapper Raiz, and Mark Stewart. Keeping it in the family, Adrian’s two daughters Denise and Emily sing on the opening track, Animal Magic, with the legendary Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Lee ‘LSK’ Kenny features on two tracks, You Wonder Why and St Peter’s Gate – the latter in a ‘sing-jay’ style (a combination of singing and dee-jaying, known in Jamaica as ‘toasting’). “I first worked with Lee when he was called Bedlam a go go,” Sherwood explains. “He has the ability to write thought-provoking lyrics in no time at all, and recently worked with Faithless and long-term collaborators Nightmares On Wax.”

Sherwood met Raiz over a decade ago when mixing an album for his band, Alma Magretta. The rapper has since become a regular contributor at Adrian’s On-U Sound System live shows in Italy, and contributed a vocal track on the last Massive Attack album.

“During my career I’ve been very lucky,” says Sherwood. “I’ve worked with nearly all my early musical heros. On this record are reggae giants Lee Perry, Little Roy, and Dennis Bovell, as well as a sampled Bim Sherman vocal I recorded a number of years ago. The record also features “new” artists like the multi-talented singer/songwriter Samia Farah, whose paintings and design provide the artwork for ‘Cliche’. I have big respect for her work.”

The last lead vocal contributor to mention is old friend Mark Stewart, whose relationship with Sherwood goes back to 1980 and who Adrian cites as one of his greatest influences.

Beats are again provided by the excellent young producer/programmer Jazzwad, and long-standing engineer Nick Coplowe. Jazzwad lives between Jamaica, England and Canada and has worked with Bounty Killer and some of Jamaica’s finest talent.

“This is my second solo album. It’s personal, it’s good and I’m very proud of it,” concludes Sherwood.