Lee “Scratch” Perry revisits ‘Super Ape’ w/ Subatomic Sound System, touring this fall 
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/lee-scratch-perry-revisits-super-ape-w-subatomic-sound-system-touring-this-fall/

Super Ape Returns to Conquer

Available 9/11/17 instantly with pre-order of "Super Ape Returns To Conquer" new album from Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System dropping 9/22/17.  More info at www.SubatomicSound.com

The 1976 version of “Underground Roots” on Super Ape was a mostly instrumental ganja tune but in this new rework features Ari Up, pioneering singer of the first all-female UK punk band The Slits, joining Scratch on vocals calling out the underground youth to wake up and seek out the real truth beyond what they are taught in school, playing on the metaphor of underground roots and culture. Sadly it this was Ari’s last recording session, shortly before she passed away, recorded not long after her live performance with Scratch, Subatomic, & Dubblestandart in NYC.  Ari and Joe Strummer of the Clash dated during the early days of punk in London. Ari introduced Strummer to reggae and even taught him some guitar chords. The Clash brought the Slits on tour with them and scored a big hit covering Lee Perry’s “Police & Thieves” track. Strummer later asking Perry to remix their dub album “Black Market Clash”.

Super Ape Returns To Conquer

Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System | Underground Roots w/ Ari Up of The Slits (out 9/11)

Available 9/11/17 instantly with pre-order of "Super Ape Returns To Conquer" new album from Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System dropping 9/22/17.  CD and vinyl available for pre-order now. More info at www.SubatomicSound.com
Tempo: 65/130bpm Key: G major ] Lyrically timely and always a favorite at concerts, this version of the reggae classic “War Ina Babylon” has  Subatomic Sound System mixing an old school one drop beat into a thumping 909 kick & snare, a reggae bass line mixed into modulating electronic sub-bass, and impeccably reincarnated horns, guitars, and percussion build on Scratch’s original influences, introducing stylistic elements of Jimi Hendrix and a new, key-modulating bridge section that veers into Malian blues and features the African kora.  Scratch originally wrote the song for singer Max Romeo and included a dub remix “Black Vest” on his original Super Ape album with featured sparse chatting vocals and new horn lines.  All those elements are tied together here with Scratch adding new lyrical themes to address current issues with corrupt government, police shootings, and religious leaders while Screechy Dan sings all the vintage Heptones harmonies.

Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System | War Ina Babylon (out 9/11)

Song out 9/11 on iTunes with full album pre-order.  The title track of the new Super Ape Returns To Conquer album is reimagined as a pulsing bass fueled four on the floor journey, trodding through creation with the Super Ape, while Scratch proclaims the healing power of music, of vibration, of meditation, and of dub, perfect dub equals perfect love -- synchronicity with nature: “This is the ape man/ trodding through creation/ are you ready to step with I-man?”  Super Ape is Scratch’s metaphor for the power of nature, the power of the sky manifested by the hurricanes with their thunder, lightning, wind and rain that frequently decimated Jamaica.  In a time of environmental crisis, the song serves as a reminder of the fragility of humanity in the face of nature and how little we understand about the mystery and magic of nature exemplified by the jungle, the sea, and the elements.  Though a self-identifying Rastafarian, Scratch is also very much a naturalist and a vegetarian. Sampled by Murs & 9th Wonder on “Are You Ready”.

Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System | Super Ape (out 9/11)

Out now on Super Ape Returns To Conquer - Curly Dub (Sing Along Jah Jah Children) [Length: 6:06  Tempo: 62/124bpm Key: A minor ] “Curly Dub” features a bold steppers beat and unlikely swaggering jazz bass line that get turnt up and taken on a psychedelic trip back to Africa. Though reggae is often identified by its signature bass lines, Scratch upends convention on this composition with a massive walking jazz bass line originally over a four on the floor steppers beat (somewhat groundbreaking in the 1970s) that is redone by Subatomic Sound in heavyweight fashion with tight 808 house kicks, big belly sine wave bass, and an added energy boost from improvised Ethiopian sax solos – extending the original American jazz influence all the way back to Africa.  Screechy Dan reincarnates Scratch’s original vocals, a melody that harkens back very clearly to the vocal phrasing style that Scratch famously nurtured in Bob Marley.  Legendary Jamaican percussionist and Black Ark studio veteran, Larry McDonald, lays down all the shaking, scraping, and rattling sounds as well as his signature conga patterns that dance around the bubbling organ skank.  Scratch blends his spirituality with signature humor, proclaiming “I am free” and that he is "black Moses", here to free the people, imploring the to feel it, smell it, and taste it. Scratch was a huge influence on the Beastie Boys, one of the few respected artists also known for their humor. Beastie Boys who featured Scratch on their track Dr. Lee Phd.

Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System | Curly Dub (Sing Along Jah Jah Children)

Out now on Super Ape Returns To Conquer [Length: 3:20 Tempo: 77.5/155bpm Key: A minor ] “Lucifer son of the morning, I’m gonna chase you out earth!” One of the most memorable beginnings to any song, one of the most sampled, and one the most classic in tunes in reggae, Scratch wrote “Chase the Devil” with singer Max Romeo, but in his typical fashion did several remixes and dubs of it, one of which was the hit “Disco Devil” sung by Scratch, and another called “Croaking Lizard” with chatting vocals, chatting being what Jamaicans called the rhythmic speaking which would later in the USA become rap music.  All those concepts are tied together in this version with Brooklyn’s Jahdan Blakkamoore nailing the opening vocal, Scratch adding new verses to taunt Satan, and NYC dancehall don Screechy Dan chatting inna classic Jamaican party rocking style while Emch recreated the music with impeccable reverence to the genius original Black Ark production but with heavy 808 kicks, sub-bass lines, and dubwise congas from Larry McDonald (who performed on the original 1976 Black Ark recording) guaranteed to move a 21st century dancefloor.  Note the elaboration on the guitar melody in the verses, revealing new lines that sound like missing parts from 1976 finally revealed and brought up in the mix 41 years later.   “Chase the Devil” has been sampled and referenced in countless popular tunes across genres, recently by Kanye West & Jay Z on “Lucifer” all the way back to the 90s rave anthem by The Prodigy called “Outer Space”.

Lee "Scratch" Perry + Subatomic Sound System | Chase The Devil w/ Jahdan Blakkamoore & Screechy Dan

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