Pendeza Riddim – Mixmaster Chao

Pendeza finds Mixmaster Chao leaning into a sweeter, more melodic corner of reggae than some of his rougher-lipped earlier work, with the set opening out into love songs, roots language, and a few proud homeward turns. Black Heart Ke’s “Waiting” and Nyawíra’s “Love Song” sit comfortably beside Ras Katatu’s “Nyumbani” and Jah Alfa’s “Mumoyo Wangu, ” while the title cut from Stephantom Wrgamble keeps the riddim’s pulse moving with a bright, easy sway rather than heavy pressure. Chao, who has been steadily building a Nairobi-rooted catalogue through Half Live Productions, lets the vocalists carry the emotional weight here, and the arrangement gives enough air for the harmonies and phrasing to land cleanly. The 2021 set runs 14 tracks deep, with cuts from Man Kifimbo, Gravitti Band, Sandra Solit, and Royalty By Black filling out the lineup.