French toaster Taiwan MC grew up in Paris listening to the hard-core sounds of dancehall trendsetters Sugar Minott and Papa Toyan.

Those influences can be heard onCool And Deadly, his debut album, which was released October 7 by Chinese Man Records, an independent company based in Marseilles.

The CD version contains 11 songs and the vinyl edition has 12. Both include Catalina, the set’s lead single.

“I’m more like a rub-a-dub singer, more old school, but I try to mix the old with the new in terms of production,” said Taiwan MC in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

Though several of the songs on Cool And Deadly have live horns and drums, he notes that there was no intention to recapture the raw drum and bass feel that made songs by Sugar Minott and his contemporaries so popular throughout Europe.

But that sound is evident on songs like Your Loving, which could have been recorded at Channel One circa early 1980s.

Taiwan MC, 35, was born Adrian Hicks to a Spanish father and British mother. His parents’ diverse music collection found his ears early, especially the roots tones of Bob Marley, Burning Spear, The Abyssinians, The Gladiators, and Dennis Brown.

Later he discovered Minott, Gregory Isaacs, Toyan, Michigan and Smiley, Super Cat and Echo Minott.

Taiwan MC kicks off live promotion for Cool And Deadly on November 25 in Paris. That will be followed by dates in Italy and Switzerland.

– Howard Campbell