Tenement Riddim – Heights Of Heights

Heights Of Heights put Tenement Riddim out on March 18, 2016 through Heights of Heights and VPAL Music, and the set landed with a heavyweight spread of voices from roots, lovers rock and dancehall. The riddim runs like a proper modern reggae juggling piece, with enough pull in the bass and enough room in the drum pattern for each singer to shape the groove without breaking it apart.

George Nooks brings the title cut “Tenement, ” a natural fit for a veteran whose career stretches from deejay days into smooth roots singing. Anthony Cruz follows with “Calling Me, ” while Jah Cure turns in “I Have a Dream, ” the kind of reflective, melodic cut he has long made his name on. Richie Spice’s “Mek It Burn” gives the rhythm one of its sharper conscious moments, and Queen Ifrica’s “Why” adds the kind of social weight and righteous edge that have become central to her catalogue. Sizzla’s “Seven Seals” pushes the energy upward, while Jah Mason’s “Crucked Ways” keeps the roots tone rolling with a stern, chant-heavy delivery.

There is a nice contrast between the more meditative singers and the harder-edged selectors. Elephant Man’s “War Fear” injects dancehall tension, Tony Rebel’s “Caan Fool Mi” brings authority, and Turbulence’s “Grades” adds another urgent, militant note. Hya P’s pair of cuts, including the duet version with Norris Man, help round out a riddim that feels built for juggling across moods rather than one single lane. Sattalite, Mikey Melody, Steve Machette and Tony Curtis add depth to a release that plays like a proper 2016 reggae assembly line, with enough name power and enough sound-system movement to keep it circulating.