Bottle Locks Riddim – Half Way Tree Records

Bottle Locks carries that plainspoken roots feel from the title onward, and Half Way Tree Records keeps it grounded in a tight 2017 set that leans more conscience than gloss. Anthony B opens with “Live Forever, ” and the rest of the lineup stays on message: Culture Knox cuts against gun violence on “No Gun, ” Spanner Banner brings a stern edge to “No Chuck Badness, ” and Phillip Fraser’s “Keep Running” folds in that seasoned, late-night singjay weight. There’s enough variety in the voices to keep the riddim moving, with Courtney Oliver and Cool Breeze adding different shades to the same serious frame, but the project keeps circling back to straightforward roots commentary. Anthony B’s “Live Forever” and Spanner Banner’s “No Chuck Badness” feel like the pair that lock the whole thing in place.