Lucky Holiday Riddim – Canjammuzik Whooi Laaawd Records

Lucky Holiday Riddim from Canjammuzik Whooi Laaawd Records sits right in that 2014 dancehall run that favoured lean, party-ready one-riddim sets, and this one keeps the focus tight with six artists across seven cuts, including two versions of Iyara’s “Good Time” in edit and raw form. The lineup is compact but useful: Kava brings the tougher “Gal Dem Dem A Mad Ova Me, ” while Muta King’s “Love Mi Lady, ” Sammy D’s “Love Of Yu Slim Body, ” and Talee’s “Christmass Bun” keep the tone in flirtation-and-festival territory. There’s an archival feel to it too, with the sort of stripped-back, mid-tempo riddim work that leaves plenty of room for the vocals to carry the hook. The whole thing hangs on a steady bass pattern and a brisk, no-frills bounce that makes the different performances feel part of one tidy Christmas-season dancehall frame.