Beautiful Soul Riddim – Fm Records

FM Records’ Beautiful Soul Riddim arrived in 2016 as a modern roots set from Kemar “Flava” McGregor’s imprint, a producer with a long run of slick reggae compilations and lovers rock projects under the FM banner. McGregor has been one of those crossover-minded figures in the scene, moving comfortably between roots, lovers, and pop-reggae while keeping his productions polished and radio-ready.

This one sits squarely in the softer, songful corner of his catalogue. The rhythm has that clean one-drop sway, with a warm bassline, clipped guitar skank, and a smooth, glossy mix that leaves plenty of room for melody. It is less about raw dub pressure and more about patient, romantic momentum. The vibe stays steady and reflective, with most of the singers working in a lover’s-rock register rather than pushing for hard-edged dancehall energy.

The strongest cuts come from the familiar names who know how to live inside a roots groove. Glen Washington’s “I Got My Eyes On You” brings his rich, weathered tone to the front, while Junior Kelly’s “My Sweet Baby” adds a more earthy, conscious tenderness. Gappy Ranks sharpens the emotional weight on “Stumbling Block, ” and Jah Mali fits naturally into the set with “Before It’s Too Late, ” a style he has long made his own. Adele Harley, JC Lodge, Lloyd Brown, Cas Haley, Lady Lex and Warren round out the lineup with voices that suit the riddim’s soft-focus, adult-love mood.