Promises Riddim – Zj Heno

Ivlyn Mutua’s “Nobody” gives Promises Riddim its first real lift, setting the tone for a 2018 Kenya-rooted reggae project that keeps faith and devotion at the center. ZJ Heno and Shamir line up ten cuts here, and the selection moves with a clean, modern-stepping feel rather than drifting into anything too glossy; Cara Feral’s “Over And Over, ” Kevin Brown’s “Never Letting Go, ” and Cathy’s “Take My Hand” sit comfortably beside more declarative turns from Natty Konshaz and Elkanah. The surprise at the end is Shamir’s “Saving The Best, ” tagged as an Empire Sound dub, which folds the riddim back on itself and leaves the session with a deeper, more meditative aftertaste. It’s the kind of compilation that keeps the vocals upfront while letting the production hold its nerve underneath.