Whitewall Riddim – Various Artists

Three tracks, three different angles, and Whitewall Riddim keeps the focus tight: Chino’s “I Get So High, ” the old-soul lift of “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” from Unknown Artist, and Yeshemabeth Mcgregor’s “In Love With A Rastaman. ” The 2005 set leans reggae rather than hard dancehall, with a breezy one-drop feel that leaves room for the voices to do the talking, and the sweetest moment comes when Chino rides the groove with that hazy, upbeat delivery before Mcgregor brings the selector back to straight lovers-rock sentiment. It’s a small compilation, credited simply to Various Artists, but that spare setup gives the riddim a clean, unfussy shape.