Soundmindz Riddim – Blackstarliner Records

Blackstarliner Records’ 2014 Soundmindz Riddim sits in that era of Zimbabwean-leaning dancehall where the voices are as much about testimony and everyday friction as they are about the groove. The cut has a mid-tempo, rubbery bounce with a bright synth line and a low-end throb that keeps the singers and deejays moving without ever crowding them out. Mega Jani’s “Seek Jah, ” Ghetto Jnr’s “Cure The Gossip, ” and Empress Laiza’s “Unochemei” give the project some of its clearest personality, while X Fecta’s title track ties the whole thing back to the riddim’s own mood. By the time it reaches “Could It Be Love” and Avalanche’s “Ma 1, ” the set feels less like a one-off and more like a snapshot of a label working a very specific sound.