Today, Reggae superstar Mykal Rose, original voice of the Grammy Award-winning Jamaican group Black Uhuru, steps into the future with Lee “Scratch” Perry’s former band, NYC dub specialists Subatomic Sound System and London lovers rock queen Hollie Cook on the release of the trio’s collaborative full-length album, Rockin’ Like A Champion, out today on all digital platforms via joint venture between Dubshot Records and Controlled Substance Sound Labs. Rose, Subatomic, and Cook also serve up a visualizer for the title track “Rockin’ Like A Champion,” that premiered today on Subatomic Sound System’s YouTube channel.
“We always need to keep moving forward” says Rose, as he prepares for upcoming live dates with Subatomic Sound System, supporting Stephen Marley and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley on key tour stops like the Hollywood Bowl on August 4th. The 15-track Rockin’ Like A Champion, which includes the previously released singles “Get High,” “Put Down The Gun,” and “Happy Is The Man Who Finds Wisdom,” is a musical triumph for one of the most iconic voices to emerge from Jamaica’s golden era of reggae.
Mykal Rose’s voice is in top form, singing timeless melodies and poignant lyrics throughout, beautifully produced and interwoven with music crafted by Subatomic Sound System that respects the roots of reggae while also making bold steps forward into more diverse influences and bass heavy, dubwise vibes for the next generation of sound system culture. Hollie Cook’s angelic harmonies enhance the spiritual energy of the album, putting it all in a divine balance. Subatomic’s percussionist Larry McDonald (recently inducted into the Jamaican Music Hall of Fame for his work with The Skatalites) lays down congas, shakers, flexatone, triangles and all matter of percussion. Troy Shaka Simms weaves a spell with soprano and alto saxophones, often delving into a variety of ancient melodies from Ethiopia and beyond. Emch anchors the production work as well as playing melodica, guitars, organs, bass, drums, 808s, and effects, dub mixing it all up into an ital stew.
Subatomic’s production style flourishes throughout the album, highlighting their approach to classic analog sounds in the higher frequencies while drawing on more futuristic techniques inspired by their immersion in NYC hip hop, electronic music, and sound system culture to extend bass frequencies to the lower octaves for deeper resonance and a wider spectrum. In this case, the upper frequencies are reminiscent of horns from classic 1960s Ethio jazz recordings; drums, guitars, percussion, organs, tape echoes, phasers and spring reverbs from 1970s Jamaican dub productions; lo-fi snare drums from 90s golden era NYC hip hop production. Meanwhile the bass and kick drum live deep in sine wave, sub-bass frequencies, steady pulsing like the sound of a mother’s heartbeat to a baby in the womb or an 808 thumping in a car trunk three blocks away, heard through your open apartment window on a hot summer night in Brooklyn.
“This album takes people on a journey,” said Emch. “Reggae is loved around the world, but so many people have lost touch with the Jamaican artists who invented the genre. Being able to have giants like Mykal Rose and Larry McDonald together representing a sound they were integral in creating and bringing to the world, is crucial work. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry always told us that to make great music, it had to be spiritual, not just the lyrics but the vibe. He used to talk about creating sounds he heard on the island, translating the vibe to instruments. Our goal is to translate that spirit for a next generation without losing the original vibes.”
