Computer Seh So Riddim – Waterhouse

By 1987, Waterhouse was already deep into the computerised dancehall moment, and this set sits right in that pocket with a sharp, spare digital groove rather than a full live-band feel. Don Angelo’s title cut, Johnny Osbourne’s “This Old Man, ” Lady Junie’s “Slim Belly Man, ” and Thriller U’s “Time After Time” do most of the heavy lifting, while Firehouse Crew’s “Computer In Dub” points the whole thing toward the studio versioning culture that was taking over the era. The lineup is tidy at ten cuts, all from different voices, which keeps the riddim moving from chatty reality tunes to smoother melodic turns without losing its edge. There’s a dry, clipped pulse underneath it all, with a rubbery bass line and programmed percussion that never rushes, letting the vocals sit right on top of the beat.