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Island Mele John Berger |
"Holoholo Mai Maui"
Various artists
Ululoa ProductionsGovernment agencies and the visitor industry alike have funded record projects intended to promote Hawaii as a visitor destination or entice expatriates to return and spend money here. This beautiful compilation was produced without such support but is a perfect promotional portrait of the Valley Isle. It contains 20 place songs that celebrate the charm and history of locales as diverse as Kahakuloa and Hana, performed in styles ranging from Hawaiian falsetto to chant. Richard Ho'opi'i, Cody Pueo Pata, Ata Damasco and Lei'ohu Ryder are among the island residents who represent the wealth of talent to be found there.
"Puamana" and "'Ulupalakua" are the notable classics. Several of the new songs seem certain to become classics in years to come.
Producers Jake and Laurie Rohrer complete this perfect album with a cover booklet filled with lyrics, background information and artwork relevant to each song.
www.ululoa.com
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He Aloha No Ku'u Aina
"Get Up and Dance"
Waena Boyz
Cinnamon RedWaena Boyz guitarist Dane Patao is the key composer on the sextet's promising debut album. The producers added so many guest vocalists that it's hard to tell how much the Boyz are capable of doing on their own, but the album is perfect for Hawaii's self-styled island music format radio stations.
The Boyz and their guests combine Jawaiian vocals with hip-hop and reggae tracks on some songs. On others, the singers perform as straight-up Jamaican impersonators. Some of Patoa's lyrics share Rastafarian doctrines, while other songs reflect the example of Sudden Rush in utilizing reggae and rap techniques to address Hawaiian issues. The musicians are solid throughout.
One of two songs Patao didn't write, "Heaven," is an earnest but insipid pop ballad that sounds like an outtake from another project.
www.mountainapplecompany.com
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"He Aloha No"
Keawe Lopes
Mana Pa'iThat Keawe Lopes' debut album was released rather quietly last year may explain why he was a 2003 Hoku Awards finalist in both adjudicated Hawaiian language categories but didn't make the final ballot in any categories determined by popular vote. Lopes didn't win an adjudicated Hoku either, but anyone interested in contemporary Hawaiian-language music will find his album worth looking for.
Almost all the songs were written by Lopes or his wife, Tracie, to express their feelings for people and places that are dear to them. Lopes, who sings a fine falsetto, shares the vocal spotlight with Tracie as well, and she's featured on a song or two. The arrangements are clean and traditional in style; acoustic instruments predominate as they should. Almost all the songs are Hawaiian, but a beautiful hapa-haole song written by Tracie will connect with English speakers as well.
The Lopes seem certain to be composers to watch.
www.lehuakea.com
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See the Columnists section for some past reviews.
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. Contact John Berger at jberger@starbulletin.com.
