Silent Soul Riddim – Ovabad Records

A moody, minor-key dancehall cut with a tense, night-time feel, Silent Soul Riddim carries that lean, stripped-down energy where the bass does the heavy lifting and the space between the drums matters as much as the kick. Ovabad Records keeps the lineup tight with just four voices, and Jahvillani’s “Points” feels like the sharpest fit for the rhythm’s cold edge, while Squash’s “Cruel” pushes the darker side of the package even harder. Ratt-Trap’s “Watch It” and Trance (Outlaw)’s “Shoot Em Up” keep the tension simmering, but it’s the way the riddim frames those two younger street-tough voices that gives the set its shape. Released on September 29, 2017 as a four-track EP, it’s one of those small dancehall drops that leaves a rough aftertaste.