Fernandez release
worth crowing aboutCock-A-Doodle-Doo!: Cye Fernandez (Missy Records)
THE word "unpretentious" provides a concise appraisal of this album of original music. Kona resident Fernandez sings simply of family, relationships, sovereignty, pakalolo cultivation and chickens. He also tells belligerent males that real men don't have to prove their masculinity by starting trouble.
Did he write "If It's Love" from painful personal experience or from watching others? No matter, the lilting rhythms and roughhewn lyrics make it perfect for island music radio stations.
Producers Randy Sugita and Alwyn Erub do a fine job expanding his melodies without swamping them in low-budget synthetic instrumental tracks. Attractive graphics and annotation by Fernandez and Erub provide additional insights into the man and his music.
If only all local debut albums were as substantial as this!
If I Was to Die Today: The Mellow Drips (Kekela Sounds) cassette
HERE'S another local group that writes and records original music instead of rehashing national hits. Resident composer Kekela Coleman (guitars/vocals) distinguishes himself with the lead-off song, "Takin' the Bus." The anguish of a young man of dating age forced to travel by bus is expressed with wit, humor and a pithy refrain. It opens this cassette-album on a catchy note.
Coleman, the son of Star-Bulletin copy editor Mark Coleman, Kevin Hand (drums), who was an artist for the newspaper, and Gregg Epstein (bass) generally delve into the familiar topics of alienation and where we fit in the overall scheme of things.
However, they close explosively with "Cobain," a harsh indictment of the singer's suicide.
The Drips' instrumentation is sparse but powerful, their arrangements diverse.
Reggae Sugar and Spice: Butch Helemano (MDL Records)
BUTCH Helemano was a major player in the proto-Jawaiian scene when this album was originally released 10 years ago. He was one of the few with any understanding of the religious, philosophical and political tenants of Rastafarianism. He was almost unique in recording original music rather than second-rate remakes of Jamaican hits. It was a long time before he recorded a song he hadn't written.
Many of these songs had been already released by another label by the time this amateurishly packaged collection came out. "Wave Rider" reflected his love of surfing. "Busting Rock" was inspired by an ex-wife.
As a 1997 rerelease this is definitely substandard; there is no information about Helemano or his many accomplishments during the Jawaiian era. However, hardcore fans will want this for their collections.
John Berger, who has covered the local entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Home Zone section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.
