Jonkanoo riddim

There is no counting the number of productions released by Don Corleon in recent months, and it is sometimes hard to settle on one of the label's riddims there are so many. This Jonkanoo riddim seems to be the one everybody agrees on these days. Indeed, it has been chosen as the basis of Greensleeves' next Rhythm Album (number 67), and the series already has an impressive number of cuts.

Produced by Donovan "Vendetta" Bennett himself, the riddim stands apart from the tone of the latest fashionable series, with their Indian or R&B sounds, and goes back to a more "bashment" sound, closer to the very essence of dancehall. The result: a jerky instrumental, with a pulsating keyboard and nagging claps, that pounds relentlessly, a bit in the style of the Steps riddim on Renaissance or the Military riddim on Echo, but faster and edgier.

With the pile of quality singles released on this riddim, making a choice becomes rather complicated. Tarzan's mix is already a very good thing for a first overview of the series; the two Kartel cuts (notably "I neva" and its hypnotic chorus), Bounty's, on which he develops yet another new style, and Marshall's, as ever true to himself, are all killers. As for Beenie Man, we might have preferred to hear the one in which he answers the wagging tongues who link him to the Bogle affair, rather than his less convincing remix of the Chaka dance.

To this galaxy of very good tunes can be added a few real smashers, such as the Ward 21 or the Bling Dawg, each perfectly in tune with the energy and intense rhythm of the riddim. And as usual, the vocal trio Voice Mail is seductive once again, with two excellent tunes. The rest of the series is not without interest; TOK, Roundhead, Frico Kid, Looga Man, Macka Diamond and even Sean Paul all deliver effective tunes too. The whole series is therefore worth it, and you will have to rely on your preferences for this or that artist to make a choice. Or buy it in its entirety. Big, hardcore dancehall, heavy and massive, just the way we like it.

Mix tracklist:
1. Vybz Kartel - I never
2. Beenie Man - Shakka shakka
3. Wayne Marshall - Gal come
4. Bounty Killer - Sen on & heng on