Blank Check Riddim – Lion Heights

Blank Check Riddim has that warm, late-night roots pulse with a little digital edge tucked underneath. Lion Heights keep the cuts focused and melodic, and the strongest pairing may be Blakkamoore with Ras I-Dre on “Way I’m Smoking, ” where the vocals ride the riddim with a loose, smoky ease that suits the bassline nicely. Ras Fraser Jr. ’s “Guilty” and Fyah Sthar’s “Name Of Love” add more lift, while “Algo Pegadito” brings a Spanish-language touch into the mix without breaking the mood. Lion Heights were working this one out of Austin, and you can hear a band thinking like producers here, locking the groove in before the singers step through. Seven songs, just under half an hour, and it leaves you with “Sense Of Purpose” hanging in the air.