Togetherness Riddim (2001) – Togetherness Records

A mellow, rootsy swing runs through Togetherness Riddim, with the kind of warm one-drop feel that leaves room for the lyrics to do the heavy lifting. The 2001 set is small and tidy, just four cuts deep, and it leans fully into conscious reggae rather than chasing any dancehall turn. Cocoa Tea’s “No War” sets the tone with its peace-minded message, George Nooks follows with the devotional lift of “Cross The Bridge, ” and Junior Kelly’s “Real” keeps the pressure on with his straight-ahead delivery. Togetherness Records keeps the arrangement uncluttered, letting the singers sit right in the pocket. In the end, Junior Kelly’s “Real” feels like the sharpest cut here, the one that leaves the strongest aftertaste.