Ini Kamoze: Here Comes The Hot Stepper - 1995
Slightly different to others around at the time is Sly and Robbie-backed proper singer Ini Kamoze whose particular brand of tuneful, accessible dancehall was quite refreshing in the midst of all the Bounty Killers, Bujus and Beenies.
World A Music is an excellent, proper rootsy skank featuring some fine vocals from Kamoze. Call The Police is a keyboard-driven, dancey groove featuring some top notch bass.
Here Comes The Hot Stepper utilises more rap than some of the other tracks, sampling Land Of 1000 Dances along the way, and it is incredibly catchy. It is one of my favourites from this era.
The mysterious Gunshot is a fine track too, differing in sound and atmosphere from much of the reggae material during this era. The same applies to the dubby Trouble You A Trouble Me. and the marvellous dub of Reggae General. Ini Kamoze was a surprisingly diverse and underrated artist.