The 5 Star Riddim (2016) – Soundboy Records

Piano keys and warm bass give The 5 Star Riddim a clean, easy sway, the kind of 2016 reggae set where the groove does most of the talking and the vocalists hang their melodies right in the pocket. Soundboy Records keeps the framing straightforward, and Darren Kerr’s “True Love” sits nicely beside Khari Kill’s “My Things, ” with Pressy Banton and Kabasi adding a bit more lift without crowding the rhythm. Legacy’s “Like A Fountain” has the most liquid feel of the bunch, riding the instrumental with a smoother, more meditative touch. It’s a compact six-track set, instrumental included, and that spare running time suits it.