Calling Riddim – Hungry Mouth Production

Hungry Mouth Production keeps Calling Riddim in a straight roots-reggae lane, and the 2016 set works best as a conscious juggling rather than a flashier modern one-riddim package. The cut is carried by a sturdy, mid-tempo groove that leaves room for singing, with a warm bassline, crisp drums and a lean arrangement that gives the voices space to breathe.

The strongest names here are the ones that already have serious weight in the culture: Richie Spice, Everton Blender, Luciano, Pinchers and Ginjah. Richie Spice’s “Come Astray” fits the socially minded style that has defined him for years, while Everton Blender’s “Some Man” brings the kind of steady, devotional tenor that made him one of the key roots voices of the 1990s. Luciano’s “Strange Time” feels especially natural on a riddim like this, because his whole approach is built on uplift, spiritual language and a patient, melodic delivery. Pinchers adds a veteran dancehall edge on “Mankind, ” giving the project a little more grit without breaking the roots frame.

The younger and lesser-known voices round out the picture well. Sativa D Black 1’s “Elder, ” Inoah’s “Another Friday, ” Devon Mountain Lion’s “Let Me Show U, ” Chrisinty’s “Heart Is Aching, ” Abijah’s “The World Need Peace, ” Mark Wonder’s “Jah Never Fail” and Influential’s “Keep My Kool” all reinforce the same message: pressure, patience and faith. It’s the sort of riddim that leans on message music rather than gimmicks, and that is exactly why it holds together.