Mended Hearts Riddim – Busspipe Records

Mended Hearts Riddim sits in that warm early-2010s reggae pocket, the kind of one-drop groove that leans into love songs without getting syrupy. Busspipe Records keeps the arrangement airy enough for the singers to do the heavy lifting, and the strongest cuts are the ones that stay direct: Norris Man’s “The Love Of Mine” has that earnest rootsman edge, while Pressure’s “Better When We Love” pushes the message home with a smoother, more polished delivery. Mr. Easy’s “Always Yours” adds a sweeter, more melodic turn, and Revalations’ title track keeps the theme anchored right where it belongs. Released in 2011, it feels like a snapshot of a period when compact reggae compilations were still a reliable way to hear a producer’s idea play out through a handful of voices.