Times Of Need Riddim – Friendly Fire Music

Out of Birmingham’s Friendly Fire camp, Times Of Need Riddim lands with that rough, bass-heavy juggling feel that still carries a clear 90s dancehall memory, but the interesting part is how the label pulls UK and Jamaican voices onto the same cut. Chillavert’s title tune and Brakka General’s “Never Lean” ride the rhythm with a clean, direct pressure, while Daddy Freddy’s team-up on “Sexy Body Girls” gives the set its most obvious flash of star power. Friendly Fire Music, the label arm tied to Friendly Fire Band and Jam Jah Sound, keeps the whole thing moving with a tight, no-frills production hand. Acer, Collie Weed and Juggernaut fill out the slate nicely, and the 2013 date sits right in the middle of that era when UK dancehall was leaning back into tougher rootsy sounds.