Morning Riddim (2008) – Food Palace Music

Back in 2008, when roots-leaning juggling was still leaning hard on melody and message, Food Palace Music came with Morning Riddim and lined it up with a mix of veteran voices and newer players. Mykal Rose’s “Give A Thanks” brings the kind of seasoned uplift you’d expect from him, while Echo Minott’s “Judge And Jury” and Jah Mason’s “So Much Trouble” push the riddim into more conscious territory without weighing it down. The set also gets a nice twist from Natasja and Little Hero on “One Love, ” plus the saxophone version cut from Lars Hartvig, which gives the whole thing a little extra breath and live-band feel. With 15 tracks and a 2020 reissue attached to the original 2008 run, it’s the kind of project that captures that late-2000s reggae moment when clean production, strong voices, and a roomy groove still did plenty of work.