Matchbox Riddim – Nite Lite Productions

Nite Lite Productions’ Matchbox Riddim landed in 2011 as one of those crisp, laid-back reggae sets that feels a little more Mediterranean than Kingston, and that Italian connection gives it a cleaner, sunnier pulse without losing the weight in the bass. Chevaughn’s “Calling Out Your Name” and Gappy Ranks’ “When You Cry” do the heavy lifting here, with both voices floating nicely over the mellow chop, while Million Stylez and Raphael keep the rootsy side in view on “Give Thanks” and “Hold On To This Love. ” The riddim drew a fairly broad cast across 12 cuts, but it’s the easy sway and polished arranging that make it click rather than any single big-name pull. Coming out late in the year, it fit neatly into that wave of European-produced reggae that was getting sharper and more confident around 2011.