I just had to make a six-hour drive across snowy country at night, so I stopped at a Hawaiian store in Seattle and bought some new music. The real find was Kimo Keaulana and Lei Hulu's album "Hula Lives". This is real Hawaiian music, the rollicking uke/guitar/string bass/falsetto sound for which hula 'auana was danced for many years. Outstanding vocals and in-your-face double-strumming uke. The recording sounds like it's live and has almost no reverb or studio tricks. It reminds me of sitting in a lawn chair at a backyard luau just a few feet from the band. The album features many hula standards you don't hear much anymore, and it's great to hear some obscure songs done so well. My favorite is "Kuwili". For the drive I also bought Raiatea Helm's first album (incredible voice), Na Palapai's "Ke 'Ala Beauty" (three-part falsetto harmony is totally cool) and Kapena's "Hawaiian Legacy" (smooth falsetto/more modern touches). All are worth owning. Jesse Tinsley
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Posted - 01/09/2005 : 10:05:51 PM
