Retro Locks Riddim – Oneness Records

Retro Locks Riddim arrived in March 2015 from Oneness Records, the German-based reggae imprint run by Moritz “Da Baron” von Korff and Benjamin “Benjammin” Zecher. The label has long worked in roots, digital reggae, and sound-system-friendly one-riddim projects, and this one fits neatly into that lane with a warm, modern roots pulse, live-feel drums, thick bass, and a melodic swing that leaves space for the vocals to breathe.

The selection is strong on conscious lyrics and a clear roots sensibility. Dre Island opens with “On Time, ” bringing his smooth Jamaican delivery to a reflective cut that plays to his rising status in the early 2010s. Iba Mahr’s “Travelling Home” sits closer to traditional roots, which suits his reputation for soulful, spiritually minded reggae. Glen Washington and Fyah T turn “Golden Locks” into a veteran-younger-linkup, while Treesha’s “Don’t Do It” adds a softer edge. Gappy Ranks, joined by Suga Roy and Conrad Crystal on “Who Are You, ” gives the riddim one of its most memorable combinations, and YT’s “Human Rights” pushes the message side of the project hard.

Runkus, Denham Smith, Naptali and Arofat, Mark Wonder, and Umberto Echo’s dub cut help round out the set without breaking its mood. The medley version mixed by Umberto Echo also helped the release travel, and the comments and plays around it suggest it connected with listeners as a serious roots juggling rather than a throwaway sampler.