Talking Voice Riddim – Various Artists

Talking Voice Riddim keeps things lean and focused, with just three cuts from Mark Messam, Mr Wright and Patrick Junior, so the appeal is less about quantity than the way the same 2004 reggae backing gets handled three different ways. The title points to the sharp, conversational style of the whole thing, and the songs sit in that mid-tempo pocket where the rhythm can breathe without losing its pull. Mark Messam’s “Coming Home” brings the most immediate warmth, while Mr Wright’s “My Vibes Energy” leans into the tune’s laid-back bounce. Patrick Junior’s “Dont” closes it out cleanly, leaving the riddim itself to do a lot of the talking.