Sound Clash 89 Sound 1 – Super Power

Sound Clash ’89 Sound 1 catches that late-’80s dancehall sound in full battle mode, with King Jammy at the controls and a side packed with sound-system taunts, dubplate chatter, and chest-out bravado. The cut that hits hardest is probably Anthony Malvo’s “Test Sound Boy, ” but the whole set stays locked into the clash theme through Brian and Tony Gold’s “Pass Me A Dub Plate, ” Bunny General’s “Must Get Defeat, ” Johnny P’s “Sound A Sound, ” and Johnny Osbourne’s sharp “My Sound A Say One. ” There’s a nice mix of veteran voices and then-current dancehall selectors’ energy, which keeps the record moving without losing that militant edge. By the time it reaches Shaka Demus’ “Bad Sound Man, ” the project feels like a proper 1989 snapshot of sound-clash culture, with the instrumental attitude doing as much work as the lyrics.