Natty Love Riddim – Friendly Fire Band

Out of Birmingham’s Friendly Fire camp, Natty Love Riddim arrived in early 2016 as the label’s first release of the year, voiced as a one-drop set that moves from sweet-rooted love songs into more conscious territory. Lion Art’s title cut sets the tone with a tender, straight-up lovers message, while Peppery’s “Sipple Out Deh” and Aleighcia Scott’s “Good Love” keep the sequence moving with the kind of clean vocal work the band was after. Messenger Douglas turns up with “Movements, ” a first outing with Friendly Fire Music, and Tomlin Mystic’s “Another Key” closes the vocal run before the instrumental version lands at the end. The band’s core players are credited on the production, with Damon Wilding on drums, Ian Fly Harper on bass, Robin Giorno on guitars and Matt Graham on keys.