Mercy Riddim – King Dubbist Records

King Dubbist’s Mercy Riddim came out a little leaner and more direct than the label’s later compilations, and that suits the set’s rootsy, dubwise feel. The four-cut package, released in August 2010, keeps the attention on the rhythm itself: warm bass, clean space around the drums, and enough weight to let each vocal ride without crowding the mix. Brother Culture’s “Secret Delivery” opens with a sharp steppers edge, while Ras Zacharri’s “Jah Rule” was the tune that drew the most early attention and set the tone for the project’s conscious direction. Jah Rueben Mystic’s “Take A Look” keeps the message moving, and Roommate closes it out with “Mercy Dub, ” which leaves the riddim in its purest form and sums up the whole release neatly.