Tour Riddim – Various Artists

Tour Riddim rolls out as a lean eight-track dancehall set with seven different voices on the same cut, and that variety gives it a nice bit of movement without losing the thread. Bunny General’s “Crazy For Me” sets a veteran tone right away, while Josie Wales’ “Me A Come” adds that familiar rough-edged swagger he’s always good for. The better moments come when the combinations lock in, especially Nahswitch and Gottyo on “Dem Caan Control It, ” which has the kind of back-and-forth energy that makes a one-riddim project feel alive. Even Nahswitch’s solo “Nuh Gal” keeps the tempo hot and clipped. Released in 2010, it sits right in that period when straightforward dancehall riddims were still leaning hard on party-ready hooks and quick-hit vocals rather than overworking the formula.