Superior (Pow Wow, 2005)

The Germans are at it again. Believe it or not, Germany has a robust reggae scene, and its international notoriety is growing every day. Gentleman has been making quite a splash for a few years now, while the Silly Walks Movement has produced some great stuff for Turbulence, and the Bogalusa label has released works for the likes of Turbulence, Sizzla, and Anthony B.  Now, the production team Pow Wow is emerging with a series of one-riddim albums featuring some big-name dancehall artists. The Serious riddim -- produced by Ingo Rheinbay -- is a bit of a misnomer, as it's a swaying, feel-good, lovers-edged roots number. Each track opens with a distinct saxophone riff before settling into the laid-back riddim.  Whereas some one-riddim albums mix up the music a bit from track to track, the Superior riddim here remains unchanged throughout.  It's a testament to the power of the music, though, that it never wears thin, even after 20 replays.  It's a remarkably consistent set, thanks largely to strong vocal performances by the impressive array of superstars like Sizzla, Tony Rebel, Tippa Irie, Anthony B, and Turbulence, as well as lesser-known international acts like Cali P and Sudsoundsystem.  Sizzla's "Our Future", Rebel's ganja love song "Sweet Aroma", and Turbulence's "Lover Her Forever" in particular stand out, the latter a surprisingly open -- perhaps controversially so, given reggae artists' propensity to celebrate blackness -- courtship of all races of women.  "Whether you're black or whether you're white," he croons, "I really got to get ya tonight."  Also strong are Gentleman's "Superior" (the namesake of the album), Ras Shiloh's "Lion of Judah", and Danny English's gruff "Life Is Love".  While I'm not a huge fan of one-rhythm albums, it's intriguing to see what individual stamp each artist places on the music.  With a talented stock of acts like those on this set, Superior sparkles as one of the best one-rhythm albums I've heard.