Good Heart Riddim (2017) – Goldliner Records

Six voices circle Goldliner Records’ 2017 Good Heart Riddim, and the lineup keeps the focus on rootsy love songs rather than any big crossover play. Angel Eyes opens with “Distance Away, ” while Emanuel Stein’s title cut, “Good Heart, ” sits at the center with the kind of plainspoken sentiment that suits a clean reggae riddim. Malakiyah, Maticalise, Stratus and WhyaLess each take a turn across the same framework, giving the project a tidy, archival feel: no excess, just a small set of artists working one groove from different angles. The production leans on a laid-back one-drop pulse, warm bass, and restrained guitar chops, with the tempo kept easy and steady so the vocals can carry the weight. It’s the bassline and the unhurried drum pattern that hold the whole thing together.