Evening Breeze Riddim – Various Artists

Evening Breeze Riddim lands in that late-2000s reggae lane with a clean, breezy feel and a singer-heavy lineup that keeps the cut moving without crowding it. The 2008 set pulls together Anthony Que, Duane Stephenson, Ginjah, Gyptian, Konshens, Powerman and Sandy Smith, with Stephenson’s “Dance For Me” and Gyptian’s “Black Son Rising” sitting near the front of the pack. There’s no big stylistic gimmick here; the strength is in the steady pacing and the unfussy arrangement, which leaves room for the vocals to do the talking. It’s the sort of riddim that leans on a supple one-drop pulse, warm bass and a light, evening-hours atmosphere rather than anything hard-edged, and the version cut closes it out neatly.