Island Mele

By John Berger

"Oceans of Love"

Yuri Chika
Toshiba-EMI

Japanese vocalist Yuri Chika introduced herself to local listeners last fall with a CD single distributed locally by The Mountain Apple Company, and an album of English and Japanese songs released by the Japanese Toshiba-EMI label. Both included songs written for her by Kenneth Makuakane. Her new album (which should be available here as an import) maintains her ties with Makuakane and offers up some fresh musical ideas as well.

For instance, her semi-acoustic, nonreggae version of "One Love" shows how the Bob Marley classic, that has been totally overdone by island rhythm acts, can be reinvented with a fresh, new spin.

The other songs are similarly well-crafted soft pop and light rock numbers that reaffirm her appeal in both languages; the six songs she wrote or co-wrote reveal her talent as a bilingual composer. Her voice is appealing throughout and transcends the language barrier.

Web site: www.yurichika.com
Web site: www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/yuri

Mpeg Audio Clips: One Love You Used To Love Me Dance Another Hula Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Sani"

Sani
Lucky Star/Feel Good Entertainment

Young female fans of Kawika Regador now have another local heartthrob to check out in Sani, a single-name singer with a very distinctive and commercial voice. Opening with a rather routine Jawaiian remake of "I Just Called To Say I Love You" would usually be an uninspired choice, but here it serves to draw attention to his voice -- he sounds like he's all of 15, although fans of Sani know that he is of legal drinking age.

Sani's five original songs cover the romantic spectrum. There's no gangsta-wannabe posing going on here, and the predominantly mainstream reggae rhythms on this album should make Sani a hit with island music fans of both genders. His ska-style original, "Love Is So Blue," certainly merits radio play.

Fiji, Chief Ragga, B.E.T., Ho'onu'a, Ilona Irvine and Tanoa Kapana all guest on various songs, but Sani shows he's a distinctive talent in his own right.

Call: (808) 864-7076

Mpeg Audio Clips: I Just Called To SayI Love You Love Is So Blue Don't Wanna Be Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Sk3 -- Lineage"

Sam Kapu III
No label listed

There are occasions when an album of standards and remakes is a great idea. Sam Kapu III envisioned his second album as a collection of family songs. Only two of the songs are new -- one written for his neighborhood, the other for his first child -- but the others all represent different facets of his musical heritage. There's his remake of "Chotto Matte Kudasai," a song often associated with his father, Uncle Sam Kapu Jr., and an arrangement of "Lepe 'Ula 'Ula" that includes a vintage recording by his maternal grandfather, 'ukulele virtuoso Jesse Kalima.

Given Kapu's strength as a solo singer/guitarist with a repertoire that stretches from Hawaiian falsetto to Jawaiian to pop, there are a couple of over-produced songs here cluttered with synth tracks and other excessive instrumental effects. Overall, however, this thematic album is a keepsake for fans and family alike.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Doxology Maunaloa Chotto Matte Kudasai 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. Contact John Berger at jberger@starbulletin.com.