Waiting Riddim (2016) – Culture Rock Records

Eight cuts keep Waiting Riddim lean and focused, with Culture Rock Records lining up Chezidek, Gappy Ranks, Marlon Asher and Denham Smith alongside a couple of lesser-known voices for a rootsy 2016 set. The songs lean on a straight-ahead reggae pulse rather than any flashy tricks, and the titles tell the story: “Indigenous People, ” “Waiting, ” “Johnny Too Bad, ” “Love Herb, ” “Chatty Mouth, ” “Ganja Samurai. ” Gappy Ranks’ take on “Johnny Too Bad” and the Chezidek cut give the project its strongest anchor, while Justin Cross and Marlon Asher’s “Love Herb” pushes the herb-conscious side of the riddim without overcomplicating it. By the time the eight-track run closes with Culture Rock Records’ own “Waiting Version, ” the whole thing feels like a tidy, voice-led session with enough bounce to keep the instrumental in the conversation.