Love Bird Riddim (2017) – Ras Blinga Records

Kendra Celesta’s pair of cuts on Love Bird Riddim give Ras Blinga Records’ 2017 set its sharpest edge, especially the two versions of “Addiction” with Kush Kash and Mellow Mood, which sit nicely beside Shane O’s turn on “Sweet Jamaica” and the easy sway of Ras Slick’s “Oh Nana. ” The riddim runs at a relaxed, mid-tempo reggae pace, with enough lift to keep the voices moving without crowding them, and that suits this kind of various-artists showcase. Ras Blinga keeps the sound rooted in the same lane as the producer’s earlier work, but there’s a little more polish here, and the presence of Ras Blinga himself on the title cut and alongside Shane O ties the whole thing back to the label’s own identity. It’s a compact 2017 entry, nine tracks deep, that sits neatly in the middle of Ras Blinga’s catalogue.