Sly & Robbie
Crucial Reggae
Album · Reggae · 1982
Sly & Robbie may have worked with a range of vocalists on this 1982 release, but the Riddim Twins were definitely in the driver’s seat. They’re masters of manipulating sonic space so that each vocal and instrument resounds like a thunderclap. It makes for heady listening: Whether you’re hearing Dennis Brown’s sweetly pleading “Hold On to What You’ve Got” or the strident proto-dancehall of Yellowman’s “Soldier Take Over”, the interplay of Sly’s drums and Robbie’s bass is never less than telepathic.