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Island Mele

Friday, November 10, 2000

By John Berger

Chilum debut
shows creativity

Furthermore: By Chilum (Moon Surfer Productions MS9005)

Chilum makes a strong debut with vital support from veteran producer Gordon Broad and 18 studio musicians. It isn't only the original music that elevates Chilum above the local reggae/Jawaiian herd. There are fresh ideas here.

An uncredited interpolation of "Tell Me Something Good" makes " Tell Me Something " something special. Chilum likewise uses the key riff in Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" to drive "Midnight Dub" and builds on the lyric hook in Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to create a third commercial Afro-Caribbean song. None of these arrangements are formula Jawaiian remakes and the blending of reggae, funk and jazz makes them fresh and original.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Tell Me Something Let's Get It On Midnight Dub Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

808-293-5778

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Loving You: By Forte (Afterthought Entertainment AE10101)

Local pop girl group Forte has been off the radar ever since a deal with Cinnamon Red Records lapsed after the response to its second album fell short of the first. It now makes a welcome comeback thanks to Jason Lent of DisGuyz and his writing partner 'elan. Forte's management has never given the group material that fully shows its potential so Lent and 'elan wrote two strong originals for this CD-single.

"Loving You" finds Forte still in an old local pop mode but now with an urban-lite ambience. "Straight Out" presents the singers in the multitrack urban sound pioneered by Missy Elliott and Timbaland in 1997. "Straight Out" is the more seductive but either song could get the girls' career back on track here. What they still need is material that will set them apart from the dozens of urban girl groups already going for play on the national Hot 100 and urban charts. Perhaps Lent and 'elan can work wonders there, too!

Mpeg Audio Clips: Loving You Straight Out Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

Fortehawaii@aol.com

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What If It's True: By Living Word (no label)

Singers Malia Gibson and Cindy Kenny join multi- talented Ben Vegas on this CD-single promoting the New Hope Christian Fellowship program. The soft-rock ballad is a Vegas original that offers Jesus as the answer to personal doubt and confusion. Liner notes provide information on how to contact the New Hope ministry.

Mpeg Audio Clips: What If It's True Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

www.newhope-hawaii.org

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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.