Overdub Riddim (2015) – Altafan Records

Altafan Records’ Overdub Riddim is a straight 2015 roots-reggae set rather than one of those label projects chasing the latest crossover angle, and that restraint suits it. The lineup pulls in veteran depth and newer voices side by side: Glen Washington’s “Love One Another, ” Jesse Royal’s “Set It Straight, ” and the Gentleman/Nakeisha pairing on “Cruzin’” give the riddim its main shape, while Bob Andy and Mark Wonder add a proper old-school weight on “Can’t Stand This. ” The production sits in that patient, earthy pocket where the drums carry the forward motion and the bass does most of the talking, leaving room for clean vocal phrasing and a few dubwise touches around the edges. It’s an 11-track run cut in 2015, and the whole thing hangs on a warm mid-tempo pulse that keeps the singers locked in without ever rushing them.