Unity Riddim Sessions Vol. 1 (Star Recordings, 2004)

Unity Riddim Sessions Vol. 1 isn't your typical riddim album with one digital dancehall beat supporting a range of slack material.  Rather, it's a collection of positive "gospel (i.e., Christian) reggae" featuring a more organic roots and lovers rock sound.  The artists on this set are a multi-national bunch who aren't very well-known outside of the realm of gospel reggae, but many of them have released albums of their own -- including Owen Uriah, Sherwin Gardner, Audrey Gordon, and the man behind the music, Jah Servant.  Amazingly, this album grew out of networking through a Yahoo group on Caribbean gospel music.  'Do you Yahoo?'  The riddim that carries the first 8 tracks on Unity Riddim Sessions is a propulsive and urgent one finely accentuated with Jah Servant's wonderful electric organ.  Audrey Gordon's superb "Hide Away" signals a shift to the second riddim, a more relaxed, swaying jam with a piercing drum sound that conjures memories of Henry "Junjo" Lawes's early '80s work with Don Carlos and others.  The third riddim, an even more soothing, straight-ahead lovers rock blast, kicks off with Owen Uriah's emotional "I've Been to the Cross" and also includes Gordon's terrific "I Am Free".  Gordon's trio of tracks from her Still Waiting album stand out, as do "I've Been to the Cross" (complete with dub), "Tell Dem" by Arlene Green & Preacha, and the commanding sound of DJ Bredren Markus I's "Where the Unity".  Certainly, the appeal of an album with only three different rhythms is limited and not suited to everyone's tastes, but the music and the performances on Unity Riddim Sessions are strong enough to sustain this set.  Available at lionofzion.com.