Fresh Mouth Riddim – Xpert Productions

Sliding in with a tight little two-song soca set, Fresh Mouth Riddim from Xpert Productions keeps the focus on the vocal push rather than any sprawling lineup, with Fya Empress on “Batty” and Luta on “Pothole. ” The 2017 release is lean and direct, and that suits the material: both cuts run right around the three- to four-minute mark, leaving the riddim to do its work without a lot of extra trim. Xpert keeps the arrangement clipped and dance-ready, with a brisk swing underneath the hooks and enough low-end weight to hold the jump-up energy in place. “Batty” comes off a touch lighter in the delivery, while “Pothole” leans a little firmer and more chant-like, but the pair sits on the same sharp, percussive groove. It’s the kind of soca riddim that moves fast and stays spare, driven by a punchy bass pattern and short, repeating vocal lines.