Thembi Riddim – Austad Sound

Ras Nelson’s “Only Jah” is the cleanest way into Austad Sound’s Thembi Riddim, a six-song 2021 set that keeps its roots reggae pulse steady while moving through a small but well-picked cast. There’s a nice pull between the producer’s crisp, spacious arrangement and the voices riding it: Shamir Tadeiya’s “Make U Mine” leans a little sweeter, while Becky Muthoni’s “Hupendeki” and Ting Seh’s “Simama” give the project a firmer East African lift. The whole thing runs just 14 minutes, which suits the format — no padding, no dead air, just six quick turns on the same riddim, and that last one lands like an afterthought in the best way.