The Returner Riddim – Bigyard Music

The Returner Riddim finds Big Yard Music in that sturdy early-2000s reggae pocket, with a straight-ahead one-drop feel that leaves room for hooks and hard-edged deejay turns. Bounty Killer’s “Almighty” and Shaggy’s “Stand Up And Fight” are the obvious pull points, while Morgan Heritage bring a more reflective tone on “Uncomfortable” and General Degree cuts through with “Frawd”; the version cut keeps the arrangement lean and open, so the voices sit right on top of the groove instead of getting buried in it. Released in 2004, the set runs seven tracks in total and also pulls in Brian and Tony Gold featuring Ice Man and Voice Mail for “Jamaica Niggas. ”