I And I Riddim – Black Trees Records

Basie’s “Fix That” feels like the handiest entry point into Black Trees Records’ 2013 I And I Riddim, a bright, roots-leaning juggling that keeps the arrangements lean and the hooks conversational. The selector’s ear lands well across the set too: Colyn Mc Donald’s “Run Around” and Lady Di’s “Jump” lean into the lighter side of the groove, while Marvin Thompson’s “Shell My Peas” and Troy Gray’s “Barber Shop Talks” bring a more playful, storytelling edge. Black Trees keeps the rhythm moving without crowding the singers, which is part of why the whole thing sits comfortably among early-2010s reggae releases that favored clean percussion and easy skanking bass over heavy studio polish. It’s the kind of compilation that fits neatly into the label’s catalogue: straight-ahead, local in feel, and built for repeated turns rather than one big anthem.

I And I Riddim Tracklist:

1. Basie – Fix That
2. Colyn Mc Donald – Run Around
3. Dyson Knight – Selling Weave
4. Kb – I And I
5. Lady Di – Jump
6. Marvin Thompson – Shell My Peas
7. Nassau – Super Soaker
8. Samantha Perigord – Jack Sprat
9. Smood – Cos A Regatta
10. Troy Gray – Barber Shop Talks