Tribulation Riddim – Attack 1982

Buried in the early-’80s Bunny Lee catalogue, Tribulation finds the producer leaning on a spare, rootsy groove that leaves plenty of air around the rhythm section. Don Carlos’ title cut carries the set with a measured vocal and a stern, prayerful edge, while Leroy Smart’s “Want To Go Home” pushes the same backing in a more plaintive direction. King Tubby’s dub version is the sharpest evidence of how much space there is in the track: the bass sits deep, the drums stay clipped and steady, and the arrangement is left to breathe rather than crowd itself. It’s a dry, sturdy piece of 1982 studio craft, with that low-slung bassline doing most of the talking.