So Precious Riddim – Goldcup Records

So Precious Riddim keeps things rootsy and direct, with a 2012 reggae pulse that leaves room for the voices to carry the weight. Goldcup Records lines up Anthony B and Piero Dread on the title cut, and that pairing gives the set its sharpest edge: Piero Dread’s melodic touch meets Anthony B’s tougher, militant tone without crowding the groove. Raphael’s “Peace Shall Come” and Black Dillinger’s “Bare Lies” sit nicely alongside it, while Jah Nyne and Ras Ijah push the conscious angle further down the tracklist. The whole thing runs just six songs, which gives it a lean, almost EP-like feel, and that tightness suits the mellow-but-steady riddim.