Church Yard Riddim – Various Artists

Church Yard Riddim comes across as a stripped-down little reggae exercise rather than a big all-star compilation, with just two cuts carrying the whole thing: Prestige’s “Ive Got This Feelings” and Bekkadak’s “Spin Yuh Roll. ” That kind of compact lineup leaves plenty of room for the groove itself, and the 2008 date places it right in that era when rootsy one-riddim projects still kept turning up with a homemade feel. Prestige leans into a warm, heartfelt melody, while Bekkadak rides the rhythm a bit more playfully, which gives the release a nice bit of contrast without overcomplicating it. It’s a short run, but that’s part of the charm here.