Gratitude Riddim (2017) – Irie Vibrations Records

A clean mid-2010s juggling, Gratitude Riddim leans on a steady roots-reggae pulse with just enough room for different voices to push through. Irie Vibrations Records keeps the riddim tight and uncluttered across nine cuts, and the lineup moves comfortably between straight reggae messages and a few sharper cross-border turns, from Gentleman and Konshens riding “Make It Play” to Anthony B sounding the alarm on “Dem A Vampire. ” The German-language entries from Bonez MC and Raf Camora and Iriepathie give the project a broader European edge, while Exco Levi’s “Yes Jah” lands with the kind of spiritual lift this sort of compilation needs. If there’s one cut that anchors the set, it’s the Gentleman and Konshens pairing, which sets the tone before the dub version and instrumental close things out.