Oriental Riddim – Unknown

Sitting in that late-’90s ragga pocket, Oriental Riddim keeps its focus tight with just two cuts: Shammi Salickram’s “Indian Body” and Ziggy Rankin’s “I Shall Return. ” The title points you toward the mood straight away, and the production leans into that with a minor-key, Eastern-tinged line riding over a clipped dancehall pulse rather than anything sprawling or glossy. It’s a rare small-batch riddim, and that sparseness gives the arrangements room to breathe; each vocal has to carry its own weight against the instrumental. Shammi Salickram takes the more direct route on “Indian Body, ” while Ziggy Rankin’s “I Shall Return” has the stronger reflective pull. The whole thing moves on a steady mid-tempo stomp, anchored by a deep, economical bass pattern and enough space in the drum work to keep the groove taut.