Triumphant Trio Top the League with “Rockin’ Like a Champion”
I share a birthday month with the legendary Black Uhuru lead singer Mykal Rose. Being born in July brings warm vibes, good times and once I escaped grey old England, shining sunshine summers.
This birthday, from my kind friends I was blessed with some dub and reggae vinyls, as they know my love for the genre.
One of the gifted vinyls was Mykal Rose’s 2016 release, “Rasta State”. I couldn’t wait to listen to it once I got home.
A few days later “Rockin’ Like a Champion” was released, a collaboration with legend, Mykal Rose, the historic pioneers, Subatomic Sound System and the talented cool riddim vibed, Hollie Cook. I was extremely excited to embark on an audio exploration of this trio. I was not disappointed.
“Rockin’ Like a Champion” is a masterful mix of the three contributors, carefully crafted to create a cascading sound that continues throughout the album. It is one of the reasons why I enjoy Sound Systems. For me they are spiritual, I try to go as often as possible.
Patiently making my way to the front of the sound, so I can feel the deep bass positively vibrate the essence of my soul. I enter a trance state where I feel one with all. “Rockin’ Like a Champion” recreates this feeling. Undoubtedly due to Subatomic Sound System masterfully stamping its presence upon the sound of the album, with deep hard hitting bass throughout, true to the dub sound system character.
Hollie Cook’s inflections seamlessly merge with the riddim of the album. Her harmonic voice echoing throughout the album. She adds a blissfully celestial sound that enhances the experience. And of course Mykal Rose’s unforgettable cadence sets the vibe. With thoughtful lyrics, true to the reggae genre, in “Put Down the Gun”, discouraging violence among the people and “Forward”, encouraging positivity, progress, pensivity.
The trio compliment each other flawlessly.
The fresh dubby sound from Subatomic, with insightful lyrics from Rose, grooving angelic vocals from Cook, makes “Rockin’ Like a Champion” a unique listen. I find myself getting lost in this album, when listening, where time becomes a thing that passes like a ripple in a body of water, it flows by as smoothly, I’ve listened to tracks over and over falling into a dubby daze of tranquillity.
“Get High - Dubstramental” is a banging tune, with deep bass. I'm a big fan of having dub focused tracks on albums. “Put Down the Gun Dub” is a skillfully mixed dub version, using Cook’s and Rose’s vocals masterfully to enhance the riddim of the beat.
Being an avid reader of philosophy, I find “Happy is the Man who Find Wisdom - Dub” to be particularly compelling, for me it encapsulates the album perfectly. Wisdom filled philosophical thought from Rose, spectrally uttering “Mankind must live in unity today”, followed by the symphonic chorus from Cook enhancing the song. Subatomic’s riddim perfectly blends with the vocal, creating an unforgettable sound.
“Rockin’ Like a Champion” captures the essence of dub and reggae with its deep, resonant bass, celestial vocals, and thought-provoking lyrics. The innovative album takes you on a memorable dub session. Mykal Rose, Subatomic Sound System, and Hollie Cook have flawlessly combined to create a must-listen album.
“Rockin’ Like a Champion” leaves me hopeful for more collaborations from this extraordinary trio in the future.
By Luka H.
