Harp Riddim – Various Artists

Cocoa Tea’s “Blood And Fyah” gives Harp Riddim its clearest pull from the jump, with that veteran voice sitting neatly over a clean, rootsy groove that leaves room for the melody to breathe. From there, the set keeps its focus tight: Josie Mel’s “I Love You” lightens the mood, while Lutan Fyah and Luciano turn “Tell It From The Heart” into the release’s most natural pairing, their voices locking into the rhythm with the kind of ease that only comes from artists who know how to work a conscious reggae cut. Ras Myrhdak closes things out with “Jahneasha, ” and the whole four-track run has the feel of a compact 2007 session rather than a crowded showcase, which suits the music just fine.