Lorna’s take differs
from rest of LimsO Wau Iho No: By Lorna Lim (Kapualiko Productions)
THE staunchly traditional Lim Family of Kohala won back to back Hoku Awards for "Traditional Hawaiian Album of the Year" in 1981 and 1982. Lorna Lim's solo album leaves no doubt that a different sound is coming out of Kohala these days.
Several songs employ Jawaiian rhythms and synthetic instruments. "Ku'uipo, Aloha Wau Ia 'Oe" neatly blends a Jawaiian beat with early 1960s-style Top 40 melodic riffs. "Ku'uipo 'Hawaiian Style' " is almost identical.
Other songs are more traditional.
Most were written by Lim and producer J.H. Iakona Ryusaki. A sweet remake of the Carpenters' "Yesterday Once More" is a notable exception. The sequence of the songs appears to tell the story of a woman surviving the end of a relationship.
How Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett's beautiful "Kaha Ka Manu" fits in is a mystery but Lim's seductive voice is the common denominator.
Kolaboration of Soulz: By KOS (Way Out West)
KOS, Jevan Pasley and G-Smooth, is the latest Hawaii-based rap/R&B act to debut with a national-caliber album.
A few tracks use live instruments, but most of the "noize" is created by Xecutive Producer "Radical Rob" Onekea. They easily equal the national stuff heard on teen-oriented radio stations like I-94.
Pasley has previously been heard on a local pop anthology album or two. This album shows what he can do with good material. "Back In My Life" smoothly blends rap with "slow jam" in a romantic plea, "Right Here" is straight romantic rap, "Where The Party At" is infectious dance music, and "We Run Tings" puts a local spin on the African-American idiom with a guest spot by Sudden Rush.
Cherish the Mele of Our Kupuna: By Elodia Kane (Respect)
SEVERAL Japanese artists come here to record with Hawaiian musicians. Elodia Kane reversed that by doing her first solo album with Japanese slack key guitarist Yuki "Alani" Yamauchi. He's a long-time disciple of her husband, Ray Kane. She's a vocalist worth hearing.
Yamauchi's acoustic arrangements will delight traditionalists. Ray harmonizes on "'Ekolu Mea Nui." Jay Junker's annotation completes the package.
See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.
See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.
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.
