Dancehall Techniques (Maximum Pressure, 2003)

*GUEST REVIEW*
Many people I know love dub and roots but just can't stand dancehall. Maybe the digital riddims are a little too jarring? Perhaps hook- ridden digi-beats feel dirty and commercial? This compilation has 17 late ' 80s dancehall tracks and a very funky Fuzzy Jones intro. Winston Riley of The Techniques produced and arranged them all. Pliers, Cutty Ranks, Admiral Tibet all sing and toast in what has become the forgotten era. This well- packaged album sounds fine but not great. However, after repeated listens and a riddim matching DJ set, the tracks would sound better. The second half provides the highlights in the form of " Hal Jokey," " Hic Up," " Ring the Alarm Quick," and "Co-Unoh."

- ragudave