Lion I Riddim – Cultural Sound

Lion I Riddim sits in Cultural Sound’s 2010 roots catalogue as a compact, voice-heavy one-riddim set with a clear earthy feel: steady drums, warm bass and enough space for the singers to keep things conscious rather than flashy. The strongest cuts come from Bobo David on “Who Jah Bless, ” Chaddy Royal on “Take I Fe Clown, ” and Jah Bless with “Poor Man Cry, ” while Adowa’s “Mountains To Climb” keeps the message tight and direct. Cultural Sound handled the whole production from the instrumental side too, recording and mixing the project in Belfort, France, with vocals tracked in Kingston, the U. S. , and Philadelphia. The final instrumental, “Lion I Riddim, ” closes it out cleanly and leaves the riddim’s rootsy pattern hanging in the air.