Ini Kamoze - Debut

Caveat Emptor for Ini Kamoze Fans

It would appear, at first glance that "Debut" is a reissue of Ini Kamoze's brilliant first American album issued in 1984 on Island Records. That album which never was reissued in the compact disc is the holy grail of roots reggae collectors all over the world. "Debut" is a completely new recording of Kamoze's debut album as well 18 singles issued by various record labels in Jamaica in 1984 plus 2 new singles recently recorded by Ini.

You won't find the same atmospheric dub-wise minimalist riddims by Sly and Robbie that made Ini Kamoze's self titled on Island Records such a remarkable recording in 1984. Those recordings made Ini Kamoze an icon of the post Marley era of roots reggae. I still remember how "Trouble You a Trouble Me" with it's use of Uzi machine gun riddims rendered me speechless the first time I played it.

This re-recording by Ini of his earliest material is not a substitute for the 1984 recordings but it comes close, particularly since Kamoze has been silent and hasn't produced any recordings in 10 years. The good news is that none of his early music has lost it's urgency in 20+ years. Ini's once reed thin voice has deepened and he sings with as much or more conviction as he did in 1984.

The session crew consists of Kamoze on bass, Prince Manning on drums, Earl Chinna Smith on guitar, and Robbie Lyn on keyboards Kamoze makes a conscious effort to beef up the once sparse but deep grooves of Sly and Robbie's riddims on the earlier sessions. However, part of the charm of the 1984 album was it's dreamlike quality of minimalism. To his credit Ini Kamoze is wise enough to not stray to far from the original arrangements that made his first recordings so powerful.

Kamoze is now past 40 years of age and resurrecting his erratic career at this stage is problematic, but musicians like Burning Spear continue to be as charismatic in his 60s, as he was as a Rastafarian youth man. Ini Kamoze lost me in 1988 when he remade his image into the lyrical gangsta and songs like "Hotstepper" paled in contrast to his earliest recordings. I've seen Ini Kamoze once in concert and his hynotic stage presense blew the roof off the club.

"Debut" is one of the finest collections of roots reggae you'll find in 2006, or any year, including 1984. I give thanks and praise that Ini Kamoze has returned to the land of the living and is recording music again. January 1, 2007

At last

Thanks goodness someone has at last put out Ini Kamoze's first album in some form or another. This is re-recorded but what makes this album is the inclusion of almost all of the man's first album. The Vibes are interesting, I do a radio show so these could be interesting to add for some Jamaican Patter.

Damian Marley has already brought back World a Reggae with his Welcome to Jamrock and Anthony Cruz sampled General so it's about time Ini gets the credit he deserves. Apparently the Taxi Gang are actually re-releasing the original album but this will do nicely, Thank you. August 16, 2006

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