Weather Balloon Riddim (2003) – High Vibes Productions

Weather Balloon sits in that early-2000s roots lane with a little more lift than the name suggests, pairing High Vibes Productions’ 2003 cut with a tidy run of voices that lean serious rather than flashy. George Nooks’ “Since You Been Away” and Luciano’s “The World Is In Trouble” do the heavy lifting, while Pinchers’ “Girl I’m Gonna Love You” and the Richie Spice and Snatcha combination on “Rock Steady” add a sweeter edge to the set. It’s a reminder that the riddim wasn’t just a one-off here either; Weather Balloon was already an older U Brown foundation from 1978, later reworked in other versions, so this High Vibes chapter sits in a long line of reinterpretations. As a 2003 one-drop compilation, it lands right where the label’s catalogue tends to hit hardest: conscious tunes, familiar voices, and a version cut that keeps the groove open and airy.