For Mouse On Mars, Finishing Lee Scratch Perry's Final Project Was a Precious Obligation: 'We Didn't Know If We Wanted To Finish Without Him'

When Mouse On Mars were preparing to welcome Lee Scratch Perry to their Berlin studio in December 2019, they were given strict parameters: three hours a day was the maximum Lee could do, and they had to take care of his health, and no drugs or alcohol. But it soon became clear that these guidelines were not going to apply. Lee Scratch Perry, the 83-year-old dub icon, had other plans. He worked from 10 in the morning until two or three in the morning, and was super happy about it, says Jan St. Werner of Mouse On Mars. This was a man who was not going to be held back by anyone or anything.

The vibe after that first day was like, What did you do to Lee? He's so happy, and we did exactly the opposite of what we were supposed to do. Mouse On Mars ultimately spent four long and happy days in the studio with Lee, who lived up to his reputation as a far-out musical genius. I thought he was going to live for another 10 or 20 years, because he was very energetic, super concentrated and he didn't seem to be old, says St. Werner. This was a man who was still going strong, and Mouse On Mars were honored to be a part of it.

But as it will for all of us, death caught up with Lee Scratch Perry on August 29, 2021, when the artist died at the age of 85 in his native Jamaica. The men of Mouse on Mars, who've released 12 studio albums since 1994, had a lot of unfinished Perry music on their hands, and - having thought they'd get together with him again to complete it - weren't sure what to do. We didn't know if we wanted to finish without him, says St. Werner. When Lee passed away, we were like, We're so glad we got to meet him and share this beautiful time. That already was a huge gift, so we were kind of like, Maybe that's it.

But it would not go down like that, with the duo ultimately finishing and releasing the music seven years after it was recorded as Spatial, No Problem. The most forceful cajoling to make it happen came from Mouse on Mars friend and frequent collaborator Louis Chude-Sokei, who over the years kept on them about finishing the project. Louis was like, Guys, you cannot sit on this material, recalls St. Werner. He heard a few of the sketches and kept bothering us.

Now, seven years on, Mouse On Mars have finally released the music they recorded with Lee Scratch Perry, and it's evidence of the enduring power of Lee's legacy. The album, Spatial, No Problem, is a heady, stylish and deep eight-track collaborative album that is a must-listen for fans of dub and electronic music. It's a fitting tribute to a man who was a true original, and a reminder that even in death, his music lives on.

As for the future of Lee Scratch Perry's music, it's hard to say what's next. But one thing is certain: his legacy will continue to inspire and influence generations of musicians to come. And for Mouse On Mars, who were honored to be a part of his final project, it's a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, the power of music can bring people together and create something truly special.

Mouse On Mars' Spatial, No Problem is a reminder that even when we lose someone we love, their legacy lives on through the music they left behind.