Give Praises Riddim – Fresh Ear Productions

By 2016, reggae riddim projects were leaning hard into compact digital packages, and Fresh Ear Productions kept this one tight with just five cuts and two songs carried by Wayne Marshall and D Major. “Give Praises” and “Love Connection” each appear in vocal and acoustic form, which gives the set a stripped-down, almost session-like feel before the instrumental closes things out as “Give Praises Riddim (Electric Solo). ” The production sits in a clean roots-reggae pocket rather than a heavy dancehall push, with the acoustic versions putting the emphasis on the singers’ phrasing and the melody sitting right on top of the rhythm. Wayne Marshall’s title track carries the weightiest performance here, while D Major’s “Love Connection” keeps the mood warm and steady. The whole release moves at an easy mid-tempo, anchored by a firm bass line and that electric lead guitar touch on the instrumental.