Only Love Riddim (2015) – Tuff Tumas And Rebel Inc

The Only Love Riddim pulls together seven cuts from a distinctly Pacific-leaning reggae circle, with Ria’s title tune, Jahboy’s “Gimme Gimme, ” and Conkarah’s “Oceans Away” giving the set its clearest hooks. Tuff Tumas and Rebel Inc keep the rhythm warm and melodic rather than heavy-handed, leaning into a clean, breezy rootsy pulse that leaves plenty of room for voices to breathe. Stan and The Earth Force’s “Hold On” and O-Shen’s “O Kumul” deepen the island feel, while Turbulence closes things out on “The Way They Seem” with a more reflective edge. The project first surfaced in late 2014 and carried into 2015, which fits the polished, cross-regional feel of the lineup and the way the riddim moves between New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the wider Caribbean orbit.