Ripple Riddim – Master Touch Records

2013 was a busy year for reggae juggling, and Ripple Riddim fits right into that moment with a clean, voice-forward set from Master Touch Records. The project keeps the focus on six singers rather than studio trickery, with Ras Imaric’s “Ever Clean, ” Lenny Banton’s “Lion Is Sleeping, ” and Ras Strika’s “Phenomenal” doing much of the heavy lifting. There was also a broader dancehall push around the same name that circulated in promo form later in the year, which suggests the riddim had enough pull to travel beyond the roots-reggae cut. Master Touch keeps the sequencing tight: six songs lead into a straight “Version” close, so the arrangement feels designed for DJs and selectors as much as listeners.