Cardiac Keys Riddim – Zj Chrome / Cr2o3 Records

ZJ Chrome’s Cardiac Keys Riddim lands in the run of conceptual one-drop projects he and CR2O3 Records were pushing in the early 2010s, after Cardiac Bass and Cardiac Strings. Chrome, better known in Jamaica as a radio DJ turned producer, has long been tied to polished modern reggae and dancehall, and this set fits that lane with a clean, keyboard-led groove and a patient, melodic pulse rather than anything aggressive. The rhythm feels warm and mid-tempo, with the keys carrying most of the lift while the drums and bass keep it grounded.

The vocal cast is strong and very much in Chrome’s sweet-spot circle: Christopher Martin, Alaine, Ce’Cile, Romain Virgo, Jah Cure, Voicemail and Tifa. Christopher Martin’s “Reggae Road Block” and “I’m There” give the riddim a smooth, radio-ready feel, while Alaine’s “What A Lot Of Love” and Jah Cure’s “Stronger Than Before” bring the softer, roots-leaning side of the project into focus. Romain Virgo’s “My Word” and Ce’Cile’s “Read No Book” add contrast, with Virgo’s restrained tenor and Ce’Cile’s sharper phrasing cutting through the sweetness of the arrangement. Voicemail’s “How Is It To Love” and Tifa’s “Fairy Tale” round it out with a more dancehall-informed touch, but the whole thing stays firmly melodic.

Issued in 2013, Cardiac Keys sits as one of the cleaner examples of Chrome’s knack for packaging a strong riddim around singers who can actually carry a tune and make the instrumental breathe.