J.A Luv Riddim – Addis Record

J. A. Luv Riddim moves with a warm, easy-swaying reggae pulse, the kind of one-drop that leaves room for melody and message rather than crowding the vocal. Addis Record lined it up in 2012 with eight cuts and a useful mix of voices: veteran polish from Thriller U on “Sweet Jamaica, ” uplift from Terry Ganzie’s “Stand Up and Fight, ” and a cleaner rootsy steer from Cali P on “Simple Things In Life. ” The set doesn’t lean all one way, either; Perfect’s “Inna Your Speakers” and Daddy Rings’ “Active” keep the energy up, while Triba’s “Broken Hearted” and Poly Famous’ “The Girl For Me” pull it toward more personal territory. Geoffrey Star and Chai’s “We Are” adds a duet touch, but Thriller U’s cut leaves the deepest mark, gliding over the riddim with the sort of seasoned phrasing that gives the whole project its centre.