Flames Riddim – Vertex Productions

A bright, militant swing runs through Flames Riddim, with enough bounce in the drums and bass to keep the groove moving while the voices stay rooted in straight-up roots reggae and conscious dancehall. Vertex Productions lined up a strong cast here in 2005, and the combination of Capleton’s “Come Fi Build” and “We Come Fi Build, ” plus cuts from Chrisinti, Jack Radics, Morgan Heritage, Richie Spice and T. O. K. , gives the set plenty of weight without overcrowding the pocket. Benji Myaz’s “Hooked On You” and L. M. S. on “Marijuana” add some melodic lift, while the whole thing feels like a cousin to the harder-edged Vertex work of the period, just a touch more melodic and radio-minded. It sits neatly in the label’s mid-2000s catalogue, where militant themes and catchy hooks meet without losing the rough Jamaican pulse.