I.C.I Riddim – Cell Block 321

Cell Block 321’s I. C. I. feels like a more polished return to the label’s rougher early dancehall roots, pairing the new 2008 cut with a roster that leans on veteran voices rather than any one marquee star. Louie Culture opens with the thoughtful “Keep My Soul, ” Wayne Wonder eases into the smoother “Notten Nah Gwann, ” and Buju Banton’s title tune gives the riddim its sharpest edge, while Richie Stephens, Mega Banton and Delly Ranks keep the energy moving across the set. The production has that hard, streetwise pulse Cell Block 321 was known for, but there’s a little more space in the mix than on some of the label’s older work, letting the singers ride the groove cleanly. Twelve tracks land on the release, with Angie Angel and Anthony John closing out the full lineup.