Mellody Gud Riddim – Blackstarliner Records

Blackstarliner Records’ Mellody Gud Riddim leans into a raw 2013 dancehall swing, with a tight seven-song lineup that keeps the energy focused rather than crowded. Avalanche I opens the set with “If You Seek, ” and the rest of the cuts — Clama’s “Wickdest Mellody, ” Mega Jani’s “Ghetto Jam, ” Millitary Sk’s “Melody Guud, ” Original’s “Haulume, ” Tin Tin’s “Vanoshora, ” and Tony Mad’s “Ndidzidzise” — ride the same slim, melodic pattern without losing the gritty edge that gives the riddim its name. There’s a stripped-down, workingman feel to it, more street corner than big-room polish, which suits the mix of voices here. By the time Tony Mad closes things out, the riddim has settled into a catchy but unshowy groove that leaves the ear on the pulse, not the gloss.