New Tek Riddim – Dmaestro Music Productions

In 2010, when roots reggae was still leaning hard on conscious lyrics and modern one-riddim packages were carrying a lot of the scene’s energy, D’Maestro Music Productions cut New Tek Riddim as a broad singer’s showcase with Frankie Paul, Lutan Fyah, Exco Levi, Nana McLean and Elaine “Lil Bit” Shepherd among the voices. The project moves in a clean, mid-tempo groove with a warm bass line, steady drum pulse and enough space for the melodies to breathe, which lets the vocalists carry the message without clutter. Danny Maestro had already built a name as a producer and engineer in Canada, and this release became one of his most recognised works, helped in part by Shepherd’s “Likkle But Mi Tallawah, ” a track that would go on to win a Juno. The riddim stays measured and unfussy, with the bass pattern doing most of the talking underneath the hook-heavy delivery.