Bad Mood Riddim – Charlie Pro Records

Shane O’s “Well Well Well” gives Bad Mood Riddim its sharpest edge, but 3 Star’s “War Start” and Chass Cross’ “Pizza Man” help define the set’s rough, streetwise mood. Charlie Pro keeps the juggling lean and aggressive here: eight cuts in a tight 23-minute run, with each voice cutting across a spare, heavy-footed dancehall groove that feels more taunting than glossy. Compared with some of Charlie Pro’s later work, this one sounds less polished and more bare-knuckled, which suits the era and the crew involved. You get Gaza Maxwell, Jah Malo, Squeeky Klean and Charlie Pro himself in the mix too, but the release never loses its focus or gets crowded; it stays locked on confrontation and bad-minded talk, which is exactly where this 2012 Charlie Pro Records set belongs in the label’s catalogue.