PRE-ORDER: Scritti Politi "Provision" LP

Scritti Politti’s visionary third album Provision is returning to CD & vinyl after a long absence, boasting new sleeve notes from Green Gartside and bandmate David Gamson, this new edition brings to life and tells the story of one of the 1980s most remarkable records.

In search of Scritti Politti’s golden sound and embracing the latest recording technology, the duo adopted an elemental approach to recording, bringing together individual parts and musicians to create a truly stunning whole. While this technique has become the norm now, in an era of computer-assisted recording, Gartside and Gamson were years ahead of their time in 1988, relying on magnetic tape and razor blades to achieve what is now done with a click of a cursor. “The whole album was pushing the limits of what analogue recording could do,” notes Gamson of the herculean task they set themselves, which saw them start the record in London and then finish in New York at a time when connecting a transatlantic call still proved something of a puzzle. But if you consider the elements Scritti had to play with, it is obvious why they took an approach that was so respectful of each and every part. 

Alongside the pair’s own contributions, Roger Troutman, founder of the Zapp Band, brought his unique, cutting-edge Talkbox instrument to their sessions; Dan Huff, whose collaborations stretch from Kenny Rogers to Taylor Swift, provided guitar; while Miles Davis was induced to help the pair complete a track Green had first started in his London flat.

“He was enigmatically charming. I was expecting an entourage, but there was none. Miles came alone and, despite reputation, seemed almost more diffident than taciturn.” recalls Gartside of the jazz icon’s trumpet on Oh Patti (Don’t Feel Sorry For Loverboy), which had come about after Davis had covered Scritti’s own Perfect Way from previous album, Cupid & Psyche 85. “He was very gracious and spent time on the piano figuring out the changes and then trying a lot of different ideas over some hours,”  And that is Provision’s true joy. The contributions from some of music’s true originals and innovators mesh seamlessly with Scritti Politti’s own artistic quest.

Freed from the baggage of time and space, style and fashion and the depths and intricacies of its creation, this new edition of Provision reveals the bold artistic ambition behind this tender record that is alive with the emotions, passions and shadows that radiate from true love’s flame.