Big Up Riddim (2014) – Hor Productions|Kathmandu Productions

Warm pull. Big Up Riddim lands with that easy one-drop glow that sits somewhere between roots comfort and dancehall rub, and the Hor/Kathmandu pairing keeps it breezy rather than overworked. The best cut here may be Perfect Giddimani’s “Mama Africa, ” which rides the groove with the kind of grounded lift he’s always been good at, while Pad Anthony’s “Come A Dancehall” gives the set a sharper old-school edge. Danny Ranks, Thai Stylee and Elijah Prophet each fit neatly into the rhythm’s laid-back sway, so the whole thing feels like a neatly packed 2014 various-artist session rather than a sprawling compilation. Released on March 28, 2014, it runs 12 songs deep, and that extra track gives the riddim a little more room to breathe.