Bassix Riddim Cooperation-Defender Ii – Irievibrations Records

A little more rough-hewn than your average roots showcase, Defender II lines up a dozen cuts from Bassix Riddim Cooperation with a noticeable lean toward German-language reggae and conscious themes, letting voices like Jahcoustix on “Faith, ” Captain Joe Morgan on “True What Dem Say, ” and Ganjaman on “Hoffnungslos” carry the weight while the riddim keeps everything locked in a steady, earthy pulse. The project came out in 2007 on Irievibrations Records and runs 12 songs deep, with a nice mix of collabs and solo turns — from Conscious Fiyah pairing with Jahcoustix to Iriepathie, Sista Vee, and Volkanikman each taking their shot over the same backbone. It’s the kind of compilation that feels rooted in the European reggae scene of the period, and the tracklist closes with Volkanikman’s “Inadem. ”