Island Mele

By John Berger

"Bamboo Slack Key"

Riley Lee & Jeff Peterson
(Hula Records International)

Riley Lee and Jeff Peterson are innovators in local music who also perpetuate traditional genres. Lee is one of the few non-Japanese to master the shakuhachi. Peterson is one of Hawaii's foremost young slack-key guitarists. Bamboo flute and guitar blend beautifully in arrangements unsullied by synth tracks or other add-ons.

The album contains eleven originals inspired by points of interest on the way to Hana (Most are by Peterson; Lee co-wrote three). "Kanaka Waiwai" represents Maui's Wananalua Church and adds a familiar melody to the collection. Detailed annotation provides all the information necessary to fully appreciate the artists' work.

www.hawaii-calls.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: Pahoephoe 'Ohe'o Kanaka Waiwai Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

"Believe"

Believe
(Hobo House on the Hill)

Malama Puahi and Rayna Lam were on FM100's 1998 "Pride of the Islands" album as members of Unique. The male members had been replaced by Abby Saberon Vasconcellos, and the name changed to Believe, by the time they appeared on "Pride 4" without competing to earn a spot on the album.

Their first album includes their song from "Pride 4" and 10 new songs from Roni Yurong's Hobo House ohana. Hobo House did the trio's vocal arrangements and arranged and played all the percussion and synth-music tracks.

Most of the lyrics are of the earnest stream-of-consciousness stuff found in intermediate school love notes. Most impressive though is Believe's "Birthday Song" which is sung a capella.

www.hobohouseonthehill.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: Heaven Sent Love Birthday Song Completely Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

"No Doubt About It"

Ka'ala Boys
(Neos Productions)

Ka'ala Boys' third album finds them still on the cusp of becoming more than tag-alongs in the Jawaiian/"island music" scene. With Elton McKeague on percussion, and the basic synth-free sound of the others, they could create a unique acoustic style of local reggae-beat music. Alas, many songs are drowned in imitation-Jamaican accents, generic Jawaiian riffs, weak rap and supernumerary studio musicians.

Give K-Boys Rodney Bejer and Keoki "Keoki V" Van Blyenburg credit for eight new songs. Van Blyenburg's bouncy reggae-rock "G String," and Bejer's straight pop ballad, "Heaven Sent," show how they can stretch beyond formula Jawaiian. Bejer's catchy "Movin' On," a savvy mix of pop and rock styles, is the most impressive. "Blowin' in the Wind"hints at their acoustic skills although a routine remake otherwise.

www.neosproductions.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: No Doubt About It G String Movin' On Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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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.