Liquid Rain Drops Riddim – Cyclone / J-Vibe Music

A mellow, lovers-rock-minded set, Liquid Rain Drops Riddim leans on smooth vocal cuts rather than hard-edged attack. The 2012 Cyclone / J-Vibe Music production lines up King Thayo, Sammi Star, Annette Brissette, Avaran, Cole, Deez, and the strongest pull here, Richie Spice alongside Raquel Oliver on “Closer, ” which gives the project its clearest hook. There’s a soft, floating feel to the rhythm, the kind of track bed that leaves plenty of room for melody and sentiment, and that suits Cyclone’s approach here, which sits a little more restrained than some of the label’s more overtly dancehall-leaning work. In the catalogue, it lands neatly beside their other early-2010s riddim work, especially the Conversation set, as one of those compact reggae compilations built around harmony and clean, radio-friendly voices.