One Love Riddim – Sarre Side Music

By 2013, Sarre Side Music was keeping things close to the roots side of modern reggae with a compilation that leans more toward feel than fireworks. One Love Riddim gathers ten cuts around a steady, mid-tempo groove, with the arrangement credited to Sebastian Metzken aka Mr. Matzkan and the core live parts handled by Christian Balzer on drums, Sebastian “Sepp” Becker on bass, and Stani Rosch on lead instruments. That gives the set a band-like pulse rather than a stiff programmed swing, and it suits the mix of voices here, from Dony’s “Licht” and Jah Ghatti’s “World War” to Yah Meek’s “Free Your Mind” and Mörda feat. Ramoncita on “Love. ” The instrumental closes it out cleanly, holding a firm bass line and a plain, straight-ahead drum pattern that keeps the riddim moving without crowding the singers.