Barb Wire Riddim – Various Artists

Barb Wire Riddim comes in lean and straight-to-the-point, with ten cuts and the bare-bones instrumental closing the set out behind a compact 2006 reggae selection. The sequence moves through Anisha’s “I Wish, ” Benji’s “Hear Dat Already, ” and Kerry’s team-up with Termite and Rude Boy on “Where My Crew, ” while the title cut gets passed around in different ways by Sensor and the version track itself. It’s the sort of rhythm where the vocals carry the personality, not any big studio trickery, and that keeps the focus on the phrasing and attitude. Pilot’s “Crying Out” adds a more reflective edge in the middle, but the sharpest pull here comes from Yellows on “Sweetest Wine, ” which leaves the riddim on a smoother, more memorable note.