Life And Times Riddim – Cp1 Records

Late-summer pulse from CP1 Records, this 2014 set rides a warm, unfussy reggae groove and keeps the focus on songcraft rather than studio trickery. 1 Nats opens the conversation with the reflective “Crazy Life, ” while Bobbyann’s “Not Your Lady” and Sean Star’s “Party” bring a firmer lovers-and-roadside energy to the cut-by-cut flow. Woney’s “Secret Lover” gets the kind of split treatment that was common on reggae riddims of the period, with both radio and raw versions, which gives the project a little extra room to breathe. Compared with some of CP1’s other one-riddim outings, this feels less about big crossover moves and more about tightening the label’s rootsy, melodically minded catalogue around a compact cast of voices.