The Tree Riddim – Various Artists

Grounded in the 2005 roots-and-culture moment, The Tree Riddim gathers a compact five-track set with a mix of singjay edge and veteran voice, opening with Andrew Blood and Wada Blood’s “Beautiful” before moving through Baja, Josey Wales, Junior Reid, and Turbulence. The tracklist keeps the focus tight, and the strongest cut on paper is Junior Reid’s “Tribute To Jah Cure, ” which gives the riddim a more pointed cultural angle amid the other voice pieces. Josey Wales’ “Dead Beat Daddy” and Turbulence’s “Teachers” add the kind of rough, conscious contrast that usually gives a one-riddim plate its replay value. Produced under the Various Artists credit, it’s a short 2005 reggae set with five songs and six credited voices.