Binghi Riddim – M Records

Binghi Riddim opens with Sugar Minott doing exactly what you’d want from a roots singer over a Nyahbinghi-tinged groove, and his “Take It Slow” helps set the tone for the whole set. M Records keeps the rhythm warm and earthy, with hand-drum accents, a deep bass line and a rolling live-band feel that lets the vocals sit in the pocket without crowding them. Lutan Fyah, Gregory Isaacs with Big Star, and Mykal Rose all slide into that same meditative space, while Daddy Shark and Flourgon bring a more militant edge to the chant-and-culture side of things. There’s even a fitting close with Skully’s title cut, which leans hardest into the spiritual pulse of the riddim. Released in 2008, it lands right in that period when conscious reggae was leaning back toward foundation sounds without losing its modern edge.