Afghanistan Riddim – Jammys Records

Lean and catchy, this 2004 Jammys Records juggling has that warm one-drop pressure that could sit under any good sound system session, and the small six-track lineup keeps it focused. Michael Rose is the obvious anchor here, his “Leff Mi And Gwaan” cutting through with the kind of authority that made him such a dependable voice long after Black Uhuru, while Fire Bobo’s “Ugly Man And Bar” and Shaka Pow and Keke Flint’s “Under Age” add lighter, more streetwise angles to the same frame. Jammys gives the rhythm enough space to breathe, with Coby J and Passenger 57, Eddie Vicious and David King, and Rasta Youth and David King all fitting neatly into the groove without crowding it. Short, sharp, and a little rough around the edges, which suits it.