Heart And Soul Riddim Vols 1-2 (2012) – Notice Production

Notice Productions’ Heart And Soul Riddim lands as a polished modern-roots set from 2012, with Wayne “Unga” Thompson steering the production and the Further Notice Band handling the musical bed. The sound is clean and melodic, with a one-drop pulse, airy instrumentation and just enough digital gloss to keep it moving without losing its soft-focus warmth. It sits comfortably in the lane of early-2010s roots projects that balanced radio-friendly sheen with lovers-rock emotion and conscious phrasing.

Busy Signal’s “Come Over (Missing You)” gave the riddim one of its most recognizable moments, folding his rugged delivery into a tender, nagging hook that made the tune feel bigger than a straight lovers cut. Jah Cure’s “From My Heart” pushes the emotional register even further, while Christopher Martin’s “Girl Friends” and Chevaughn’s “When You’re Here” show the sweeter side of the set, with smooth vocals that sit naturally against the riddim’s lush, restrained arrangement. Chuck Fenda’s “Warning” and Hezron’s “Can’t Come Between” add a firmer cultural edge, giving the compilation a little more backbone. Million Stylez, Richie Loop, Brown Shuga, D Major, Further Notice and Future Fambo widen the palette, moving between romance, separation, longing and everyday relationship talk.

Notice Productions were already building a name around glossy, band-driven reggae projects by this point, and Heart And Soul fits neatly into that run. It is the kind of riddim that works because the production leaves space for melody, and the strongest cuts know exactly how to fill it.