A Song For Friday: Zion I Kings & Pressure Busspipe

Celebrating the Full Bloom Riddim with one of its 14 variations

Jul 20, 2024

Some find reggae too repetitive. Then there are those like me who like listening to “riddim” collections, where the same backing track is used by a variety of singers. This idea goes back to at least the mid-70s when Sugar Minott began repurposing Studio One tracks to create new songs. A fine exhibit “A” for this ongoing practice is the new collection by the San Diego production team, Zion I Kings. Celebrating their “Full Bloom Riddim,” the album has some familiar names (Capleton, Kabaka Pyramid, Peetah Morgan, and Glen Washington), along with many that are unfamiliar (Imeru Tafari, Michah Shemaiah, Ras Teo, etc.)

There can be an element of salesmanship in the way each singer attacks the song. Everyone wants to have a hit and part of the fun in listening is to see who will be the most persuasive in putting the riddim over. Zion I Kings is a crack squad of rhythm killers who caught my ear last year with their excellent work for Glen Washington on his album Jah Children so naturally I expected his version to grab me the most. Washington also released a fine album today, Feeling Irie, which features backing tracks from classic Treasure Isle songs, so he was looking dominant. But listening blind revealed a new champion: Pressure Busspipe. Calling his take Ever Need, Pressure sounds hungry and fully engaged as he flows forth over the tight groove and punchy horns.

“I’m grateful for everything/Thank you Jah for restoring life,” he sings in a voice rich with emotion as the music moves ever forward. Pressure, who was born Delyno Thomas in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was recently laid up in the hospital (check his Instagram), which may be part of the reason he sings it like he means it. Who feels it, knows it, as the old song goes.

If you like what you hear from Pressure, get into the whole album, which will cool down the next heatwave most effectively.

Which singer caught your ear?

AnEarful

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