Goodmind Riddim – Various Artists

Goodmind Riddim lands in that 2008 rootsy reggae pocket where conscious lyrics and warm, rolling grooves do the heavy lifting, and the cut with Chezidek’s “Praise Jah” feels like one of the sharper statements in the set. Anthony Cruz, Gyptian and Lutan Fyah each bring a different angle to the same riddim, moving from social commentary to lovers rock and straight spiritual uplift, while the production leaves enough space for the vocals to sit up front without losing the low-end sway. Chaka Demus, Natural Black, Nitty Kutchie, Paul Elliot and Taurus Riley also add weight across the selection, so the whole thing plays like a well-stocked various-artists session rather than a loose compilation. The release runs with 13 tracks in all, with the usual version cut closing the package.