Time Square Riddim – Various Artists

Time Square Riddim feels leaner than the bigger mid-2000s dancehall packages that usually crowded the market, and that sparseness gives it a sharper edge. With just three cuts, it keeps the focus on the groove: a sturdy, stripped-back riddim with enough low-end pressure for the vocals to sit right on top. Lawgiver’s “My Place” comes in direct, while Munga’s “Been Away” has the kind of easy strain he could sell in his sleep, riding the rhythm with more melodic lift. There’s no fat on this one, and that’s part of the appeal; the instrumental “Version - Time Square” closes it out by laying the bare bones of the riddim and leaving the whole thing ringing in your head.