Royalty Dub Riddim – Indie-Rootz Records

Deep cuts. Indie-Rootz’s Royalty Dub Riddim has that sturdy, rootsy pulse that lets the voices do the talking, and the lineup feels stitched from different corners of the culture: Luciano’s “How Can You Say” and Patra’s “Music” sit comfortably beside Donna Makeda’s “No Sell Out” and Lady G’s “Rock And Come In. ” There’s a nice contrast too between the veteran weight of Jimmy Riley’s “Life Is A Journey” and the uplift of Mikey General’s “One For All And All For One” with Meagan Simone, which gives the whole set a sense of purpose rather than just polish. The Montreal-based label had already been drawing attention around this 2014 release, and the riddim’s clean bass-and-drum backbone keeps the cuts moving, especially on the more conscious selections. A tidy 12-track set, with enough familiar names to anchor it.