Island Mele
Brothers & Sisters hit the scene in 1994 when John Kahale Chang introduced them as look-alike replacements for Na Waiho'olu'u O Ke Anuenue. (Both groups were Jawaiian quintets of three women and two men.) Chang, a leading producer of Jawaiian music in the early 1990s, outdid himself. Brothers & Sisters' single, "Friend in Me," won a Hoku in 1996. "Jus' Us"
Brothers & Sisters
(Skrapyard)Five years after their last Kahale album, the group is back as a quartet that includes three of the original five. Lead vocalists/songwriters Shannah Nahulu and Buffee Chai head the revamped lineup and contribute eight originals.
Most combine basic danceable rhythms with stream-of-consciousness lyrics, but Nahulu goes romantic with "I Love You." She also takes the lead in a recycling of Roy Orbison's 1963 hit, "Blue Bayou," the album's only remake.
Fans of classic Jawaiian pop will welcome the group's return. A tedious skit, "On the Radio," is a wasted track.
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Rain of Love
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
Add songwriter Art Umezu to the list of people who've responded to the Sept. 11 attacks by recording. Roy Hamada assembled all but one of the synth-track melodies for Umezu's five-song project. Vocalist Stacie Taniguchi is clearly headed for bigger things. "One World: United We Sing"
Stacie Taniguchi
(Music of Kauai)Umezu's lyrics express his thoughts on patriotism, love and world peace. The arrangements are most poppy karaoke-style ballads, but Hamada programs a refreshing disco tempo on "One World." Taniguchi is memorable throughout.
Umezu hopes to get his album to the victims' families and everyone involved in the recovery efforts. They'd likely appreciate the gesture and the music.
e-mail: sakura@hawaiian.net
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
Every successful recording artist has a breakthrough release. This album, recorded and originally released in 1969, is the one that did it for Kawai Cockett. Not only was the album a hit, but Cockett's version of the title song was the one that popularized Randy Farden's song. That makes the re-release of this landmark album on CD especially welcome. "Beautiful Kaua'i"
Kawai Cockett & the Lei Kukui Serenaders
(Hula)The foundation of Cockett's recent Hoku-winning recordings is heard here. Cockett's distinctive ukulele strum defines both the melody and the tempo of the clean, synth-free arrangements as the other musicians fill in around him. His rendition of "Pohai Ke Aloha" is of particular interest as an older alternative to the falsetto version others perform these days.
Cockett fans -- and anyone who appreciates traditional Hawaiian music -- will consider this a "must buy." It certainly belongs in every collection of 20th century Hawaiian music.
www.Hawaii-Calls.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
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.
