Brainchild Riddim – The Best From West Records

Warm and rootsy, Brainchild Riddim leans into a steady, meditative groove rather than chasing anything flashy, with a bassline that stays grounded while the percussion keeps the whole thing moving in a relaxed, dub-conscious way. The Best From West Records line-up pairs veterans and younger voices nicely: Luciano’s “Do You Love Jah” brings the kind of uplift you’d expect from him, Jah Towel’s “Seek Wisdom” and Nana E. Q’s “Where I Live” keep the conscious edge in focus, and Ever Sparks and Emperor Mongasha add a little more fire to the set. Choppa Chop’s “Keep On Moving” helps round out a seven-track juggling that runs just over 25 minutes and feels cut from the same 2021 wave of roots revival releases that still leaned on message music and clean, uncluttered production.