Oo Wee Baby Riddim – Volcano

1984 was a busy moment for Volcano’s run of rugged soundsystem reggae, and Oo Wee Baby fits right into that heavy mid-’80s pocket. The rhythm has that dry, pushy one-drop feel with enough bass pressure to carry the singers without clutter, and the brief list of cuts keeps the focus tight. Frankie Paul’s “Them A Talk About” is the obvious hook here, with Cocoa Tea’s “Informer” sitting neatly beside it and adding a sharper, cooler edge. Henry “Junjo” Lawes is the hand behind the project, which explains the no-nonsense approach and the way the riddim stays lean rather than overworked. By the time you get to Freddie McKay’s “Tricksters Loving” and Little John’s “Smoking Cocaine, ” the whole thing has settled into a stern, streetwise groove that feels made for the dance.