Island Mele

By John Berger

"Dezman"

Dezman
Dominant Rhythm Inc.

While some record labels are recycling "same old beat, same old skank" music ad nauseam, imaginative producers and artists are moving forward. One fresh new team of note is singer/songwriter Dezman and musician/songwriter Robert Tsuhako. Dezman, Tsuhako and Dominant Rhythm Inc., are challenging local radio stations to play something off their remake-free album. Serious local reggae fans will embrace their work.

Two songs stand out. "These Tears I Cry" expresses strong nationalist sentiments in English and includes a Hawaiian-language rap by Sudden Rush. "He Koa Wau Nau" sets Hawaiian lyrics to a reggae beat. It's a positive step forward, except for the fact that no translation is provided.

Several other songs are reminiscent of the sound of popular California act Big Mountain, but Dezman remains his own man throughout.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Going To Be a Party These Tears I Cry Noble Soljah (Remix) Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Reach Out"

Cool Change
Hi-Risk Productions

Cool Change debuted in 2000 as a duo - Fabian Verece and Bryan Canencia - with backing musicians. The duo is now grown to a quintet, and has plenty to offer die-hard fans of basic contemporary island music. The title song utilizes almost all the familiar components, including someone doing an impression of Jamaican star Shaggy; this alone should guarantee major play on Oahu island music radio stations.

But if you listen further, you'll hear the group do some decent acoustic reggae-beat tunes and soulful pop. The lead vocalists aren't identified, but one of them is evidently into the classic sound of Mackey Feary - which is not a bad thing!

Composers' credits aren't provided, but a routine remake of "Karma Chameleon" makes Cool Change the second local act this month to redo a Culture Club classic. "Don't Crowd My Moon" and "Be My Girl" blend bits of pop, light reggae and modern urban music into appealing songs that transcend the island music formula.

E-mail: HIRISK2000@aol.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: Reach Out Sweet Island Karma Chameleon Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Back to Kohala"

Kohala
Palm Records

Charles Michael Brotman, Charlie Recaido and Kevin Teves come together again as Kohala to share the musical magic created when a nylon-string guitarist (Brotman) teams up with two guys who prefer the hardier steel strings. The acoustic trio emphasizes the concept and contrasting textures by mixing their recordings so that Teves is heard solely through the right speaker, Recaido on the left and Brotman is in the middle. It's a clever idea. The tranquillity and delicacy of their arrangements make this, their fifth album, a perfect antidote to the daily stress of times like these, especially when enjoyed on headphones.

Most of the songs are originals intended to suggest the rural beauty of the Kohala district, but the trio's instrumental treatment of the Beach Boys' "Warmth Of The Sun" fits in perfectly. The interplay between the instruments merits attentive listening and offers new discoveries on repeat "visits" to the sound of Kohala.

www.islandheritage.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: Forever Mine Back To Kohala Warmth of the Sun 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.