Spanish Harlem Riddim (2017) – Peckings

Peckings’ Spanish Harlem Riddim lands as a compact 2017 roots set with a strong connection to the label’s long-running taste for classic Jamaican songforms and clean, singer-led production. The title points back to the old Spanish Harlem lineage, but this version is cut with a modern Peckings touch: warm bass, a measured one-drop pulse, and enough space in the arrangement for the voices to sit up front.

The line-up is small but carefully chosen. Ras Sherby opens with “Seven Spanish Angels, ” bringing a smooth, devotional tone from a London-based singer, songwriter and producer who has also worked behind the desk at his own Zion Studio Music. Nereus Joseph follows on “Getting Out Of Trouble, ” and his presence matters; the St. Lucian-born, UK-based veteran spent decades as a steady name in British reggae, with a history that stretches from Coptic Roots to his later solo work. Iyahman Pablo’s “Jah Rastafari” adds a more spiritual edge, his delivery rooted in conscious reggae with a clear preacher-like lift. King Dilly closes the set with “Dubbing In Harlem, ” which gives the riddim its instrumental payoff and underlines the dubwise side of the project.

What makes the release work is the balance between reverence and freshness. Peckings lets the groove breathe, and the singers answer that restraint with melodies that are heartfelt rather than overworked. It is a small 2017 riddim release, but one with enough character to reward repeated spins.