Eighty Five Riddim (More) – Madhouse Records

Nine cuts deep, Eighty Five Riddim (More) feels like the leaner companion piece to Madhouse’s better-known 2005 juggernaut, keeping the focus on a tight midtempo dancehall groove with that sharp, digital Dave Kelly edge. Busy Signal’s “Going Up” and Million Stylez’s “Miss Fatty” sit right in the pocket, while Mad Cobra and Tony Matterhorn bring the tougher, more streetwise energy that keeps the set moving. The line-up leans heavy on the songs that got the riddim talked about beyond Jamaica, especially Idonia’s “Star” Phoenix remix, which adds another layer to a tune that already had plenty of pull. It closes on Tony Matterhorn’s “Nuh Fren We, ” and by then the riddim’s clipped drums and skeletal bassline have done the talking for the whole release.