Return of the Super Ape is another example of the sound that made Lee Perry great. His records just don't sound like anything else. It's all off somewhere on it's own. I don't know much of Return of the Super Ape's history, but this one was also hard as dirt to find until reissue. The first side of this record is amazing, sounds from the Black Ark in the mixup cup of all feelings. The side is always in a flux of chanting, sweet female vocals and straight dubs over heavy rhythm sections and an amazing production style. At this time he had his effects seriously in check with the echo chamber and bass tubes distorting to perfection. The sound effects were still created with stuff like bottles and objects and banging on stuff. Legend says that Perry used to do all kinds of crazy shit to get the feel that he wanted. Like bury master tapes in the garden for a few months. The second side is not as interesting to me but comes through with some wicked Perry voiced tunes laid over a sound very similar to Roast Fish, Collie and Cornbread LP.

• music label: Upsetter 1978

reviewed by the mgmnt