Dream Dayz Riddim – Young Veterans

A little more to the point than the usual mid-2010s roots showcase, Dream Dayz Riddim gathers a full dozen voices around Young Veterans’ 2010 one-drop cut, with Bugle’s “Why You Wish Bad, ” Spanner Banner’s “Best Of Life, ” and Teflon’s “So Hard” carrying most of the weight. The selections lean personal and reflective rather than militant, so even the tougher titles sit inside a mellow, contemplative mood. Young Veterans — Sheldon Pennicott and Sekou Davis — were already building a name in reggae-dancehall production by this point, and here they keep the arrangement uncluttered, letting the drum and bass sit deep while the guitar chops and light keyboard phrases do most of the colouring. It’s a warm, steady ride with a restrained pace and a clean, rolling bass line that holds the whole thing together.