Tintorera Riddim – Various Artists

Loose and sly, Tintorera Riddim skims through four dancehall cuts with a bilingual, barrio-party edge that keeps the whole thing feeling quick on its feet. Kalanyi Weif’s “Guiales Wena De Mi Area” and the Jay Jordan/Rene El Renegado pairing on “Tu Me Tiene Crazy” give it the brightest hooks, while Rene El Renegado’s solo “Balacera De Culo” pushes the attitude a little harder and El Centi’s “Parcera Bacana” keeps the set moving. Issued in 2012 and credited to Various Artists, it sits closer to a compact showcase than a sprawling juggling, which makes its short run all the sharper. In a year packed with dancehall riddims, Tintorera lands as one of those lean, regional sets that adds a distinct Spanish-speaking flavor to the producer catalogue.