Manchester Punk Festival Releases 38th Compilation
Manchester Punk Festival have released the 38th volume of their compilation series ahead of this year’s festival. Manchester Punk Festival Vol. 38 is…
Trust Records have released Scientist Meets Hepcat: Scientific Dub Special and the deluxe reissue of Hepcat‘s Scientific of which the collaboration and remixes were derived from. This special reissue package, that was remastered from the original analog tapes by Pete Lyman, is available in stores now and across all digital platforms. It’s the first time Scientific has been available on vinyl in years, the limited vinyl version of Scientist Meets Hepcat: Scientific Dub Special sold out in just an hour. Hepcat will also be appearing on Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise in 2025
Hepcat was formed in 1989 by the late vocalist Greg Lee and keyboardist Deston Berry. Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican Ska. Mixed with elements of Soul, Jazz and R&B, their singular sound quickly cemented them as staples in Los Angeles’ burgeoning ska scene in the early 90’s. Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut, Out of Nowhere, on Moon Ska Records, the band released their signature sophomore effort in 1996. Fast forward to 2021, archival label Trust Records purchased controlling interest of the BYO Records catalog, including Hepcat’s Scientific.
While in discussions with late founding member and lead vocalist Greg Lee on how he would like to see the album re-released, he let it be known that his dream of all dreams was to have legendary dub producer Scientist create a dub version of the album. Hopeton Brown, known as Scientist, is the legendary electronic and studio engineer, considered to be one the forefathers of Dub Music. He developed his skills in the late 70’s and 80’s at the legendary King Tubby Studios with the revolutionary use of reverb, delay and other effects to transform traditional reggae tracks into groundbreaking dubs. Those final dub mixes of Scientific were approved by Greg Lee and the band in January of 2024, just before Greg tragically died of a brain aneurysm.
“It’s the album in which we all got together and figured shit out, tweaking controls and dialing in the perfect vibe, like a chemistry set, hence the name. We spent so much time and energy on that album. Labor of love, worth every moment. Greg Lee believed it would be cool if Scientist would dub ‘Scientific’. He liked the play on names and the historic implications. Like a true fan, Greg sought out information from various sources and finally was introduced to Scientist by Brian Wallace aka: Dub Robot at the legendary Dub Club in Los Angeles. Greg worked his magic and Scientist agreed to create dub’s of ‘Scientific’. The rest is now history. Greg Lee is Hepcat personified. One of the strongest and greatest songwriters of Hepcat’s history. A mastermind. A positive source of inspiration. A leader. An eternal flame. The member who kept it fun and enjoyable, while being strong, and powerful at the same time.”