Punaany Aka Lion Attack Riddim – Steely and Clevie

Steely and Clevie were already a powerhouse by the time they cut Lion Attack in 1990, and this set sits neatly inside the duo’s run of self-issued one-riddim projects on their own label. By then Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson and Cleveland “Clevie” Browne had become one of the defining production teams of late-’80s and early-’90s dancehall, with the kind of computerized, sharply etched sound that helped shape the era.

Lion Attack rides that familiar Steely and Clevie pulse: clipped drums, a deep rolling bass, bright keyboard accents and just enough space for the deejays to work the pocket. It has the digital snap of the period, but it still feels rugged and streetwise rather than slick. The energy is militant without turning muddy, which is why these versions still travel well in a juggling.

The lineup is heavy. Shabba Ranks’ “Caan Dun” brings the kind of commanding, chest-out delivery that made him unavoidable in the early ’90s. Cutty Ranks’ “Grizzle” has that harder edge he was known for, all gruff authority and badman talk. Cocoa Tea’s “Sonia Come Back” adds a smoother vocal touch, while Freddie McGregor’s “Fever Medley” gives the riddim a melodic lift. Carl Meeks, Commander Shad, Danny Blue, Joseph Stepper and Tony Tuff all add their own flavor, keeping the rhythm from settling into one mood for too long.

What makes Lion Attack last is that it captures a very specific moment when Steely and Clevie’s sound was already fully formed, and the artists on it were sharpening the voices that would carry dancehall through the decade.