Island Mele
Cord and Soria
create perfectionHistory of Hawaiian Steel Guitar: Various, (HanaOla - HOCD34000)
MICHAEL Cord and Harry B. Soria Jr extend their superb Vintage Hawaiian Treasures series with this retrospective on the Hawaiian steel guitar through 1950 and artists such as David Napihi Burrows, Annie Kerr, Jules Ah See and Benny Rogers.
Producer Soria has outdone himself with the annotation. A 16 page booklet includes a detailed history of the instrument, the recordings, the artists, and the tunings used.
Soria includes several versions of "Sand" to show the range of style and technique. This is a perfect introduction to Hawaiian steel guitar.
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VAIHI'S second album is a musical landmark that contains both smooth light rap and traditionalist acoustic compositions performed in English or Tahitian. Observant buyers will quickly note this is the fourth local album with CD-ROM enhancement. The files are competently produced and provide further insight into Vaihi's identity.
"Can You Imagine" and "Stop The Rain" evoke memories of P.M. Dawn with beautifully constructed commentaries on the human cost of violence and domestic abuse. "Stop The Rain (Remix)" restates the theme with equal impact.
Vaihi uses synthesizers creatively to enhance a melody rather than as sonic filler. A clean acoustic arrangement of "Ku'u Kapena Kele" shows the band also knows sometimes fewer instruments suffice.
"What's Your Name" is catchy and commercial, but built on an uncredited interpolation of Ben E. King's 1961 hit, "Stand By Me." King and his publisher will appreciate the royalties, but he deserves a listing too.
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"Reggae music has many meanings/It's for you to pick and choose," says Native Roots as it opens with familiar Rastafari themes and gradually reveals an evangelical Christian message. Yes, this is a "born again" reggae band, although most local "kanakafarians" will likely enjoy the music, ignore the lyrics, and just skank to da riddim.
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See Record Reviews for some 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 Today
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
