Island Mele
Friday, May 18, 2001
Jason Sadang's impressive debut album bucks two tired trends in island music. It contains no pop remakes and no celebrity guests! Sadang evidently has faith in himself as a singer-songwriter, and his romantic originals are quality work. Most blend smooth urban and pop styles. Several have light, tight reggae rhythms. A Hawaiian-language song, "Na Pua O Ke Au Hou," displays another side of Sadang. "Personalities"
Jason Off the Mark (0TMR01)Sadang's singing shows that dreamy "slow jams" can be more than languid moping. There's soul and emotion in his soft ballads. The interplay between synthetic instruments and Sadang's ukulele makes his Jawaiian love songs interesting as well.
Sadang's uke also gives "Ride Sally Ride" the feel of a backyard jam and thus distinct from his Jawaiian and pop songs. It too is an original (the one he didn't write or co-write, "Heaven," is by members of his production team).
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Personality
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
www.olindaroad.com
Sprung Monkey's smooth soft-rock treatment of "He Aloha Mele" is the biggest surprise -- and a good one -- on this quality fund-raising CD from Mike Young and his Wave Riders Against Drugs organization. Young offers a fine mix of originals and tunes by other artists. "Wave Riders Against Drugs:
Various artists Nalu Nui (NNR01)
Aloha Collection"The eight songs Young contributes show his versatility. "Tropical Moon" is a catchy modern hapa-haole song. His "Kekaha Moon" is a fine piece of tranquil night music.
One of the oldies, "Pi'i Mai Ka Nalu," by Sistah Robi Kahakalau and Bu La'ia, fits the surfing theme. Donations from Dancing Cat artists Dennis Kamakahi and Ledward Kaapana add diversity and star power. A much older gem, the Gabby Pahinui/Atta Isaacs recording of "Manuela Boy," is already available on CD but is a delight here. "Whale Cry of the Ocean," from Lisa Leung and Pierre Grill, is also memorable.
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
mokeaction@earthlink.net
www.wradonline.com
Singer/songwriter Stan Rubens is a unique artist. He performs and records using electronic gear he calls "the Invisible 3". It gives him a sound that's more sophisticated than karaoke but still has a homebrewed ambiance. "Songs for Lovers of the
Stan Rubens No serial number
Sea and Exotic Places"Rubens sings with a slight Northern European accent, and much of his work has an international European pop feel. He also thinks outside the box as a lyricist; not many would rhyme "bad" with "head" or pair "attack" with "neck." Most importantly, Rubens copies no one and panders to no one.
Rubens' fourth album consists of songs with tropical or nautical themes. It's easy to imagine some of them played by live musicians. "There are so Many Fishes in the Sea" is promising as big band material, and "Bamboo House" evokes thoughts of Martin Denny -- but live musicians would alter Rubens' distinctive sound.
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
Stanrubens@aol.com
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.
