More Strength Riddim – Stringray Records

Anthony Que opens More Strength Riddim with “So Lonely, ” and that’s a sharp way into a set that keeps its focus on rootsy uplift rather than big-room flash. Stingray Records line up a tidy seven-cut showcase in 2005, with Peter Hunningale and Lukie D’s “Keep It Real” and Singing Melody’s “I’ll Be Good To You” doing a lot of the heavy lifting, while Richie Davis and Tony Douglas keep the mood devotional and steady. There’s a familiar Stingray feel here if you know their early-2000s output: cleanly voiced, melody-first, and inclined toward conscious reggae rather than anything too hectic. The title cut version closes things out the way these productions should, leaving the rhythm itself to do the talking. It sits neatly alongside the label’s other strength-themed work, but this one feels especially tuned for singers who can ride a calm, forward-moving groove.