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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 06/24/2007 : 11:29:34 AM
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Thanks, Auntie Maria, for alerting us to the articles in the newspaper and the sound clips, etc. After listening to samples of the music, I am not sure that I like it at all. Sounds like Iz plays Diz(ney). It just doesn't seem to go together, to me. Fine to do, if they want to make some $$$ for Marlene, but I like pure and simple Iz mo bettah. Henehene Kou Aka doesn't quite seem the same all fancied up. Its like me, you can dress me up but I am still a simple hillbilly girl underneath.
I've got to think about whether I want to buy the CD or not. It kind of goes back to the thread I had under talk story about the miracles of modern electronics in music. I guess for some reason, there did not seem to be any heart in that music...it did not stir my soul.
(Although I did like when Natalie Cole sang with her father, through electronic wizardry..and Bocephus with his dad....and Amy Gilliom with Dennis Pavao.)
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 5:00:11 PM
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Because the record label was telling me about this waaaay in advance, I too was wondering "how many times can they re-hash his music?". But watch the interview with Jon de Mello on this page -- wherein he gives a semi-technical explanation of how the technology allowed him to present a more clear version of Israel singing "Ku`u Morning Dew" -- and you might appreciate this new release a bit more:
http://iz.honoluluadvertiser.com/videos2.html
(it's the final video of the whole collection) |
Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2007 : 03:31:21 AM
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A new review is in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- praising the way Jon de Mello used his "science" on this CD:
"With exquisite orchestral arrangements placed in perfect counterpoint to Kamakawiwo'ole's voice and ukulele, "Wonderful World" is an album in which each selection seems more beautiful than the others. The orchestra expands the familiar melodies and offers fresh perspectives that allow the imagination to explore the lyric images in new ways, but Kamakawiwo'ole is never overshadowed or lost in the mix. This is one of those rare times in local music in which "more" -- more instruments in this case -- actually turns out to be a good thing."
The full article and review, are here:
http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/25/features/story01.html |
Auntie Maria
===================
My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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Auntie Maria
Ha`aha`a
USA
1918 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2007 : 5:21:08 PM
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Received our shipment today -- click the cover on the MELE.COM front page, then click song titles for short MP3 soundclips.
Awesome...especially his re-vamped version of "E Ku`u Morning Dew". |
Auntie Maria
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My "Aloha Kaua`i" radio show streams FREE online every Thu & Fri 7-9am (HST)
www.kkcr.org - Kaua`i Community Radio
"Like" Aloha Kauai on Facebook, for playlists and news/info about island music and musicians!
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2007 : 11:45:10 AM
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I listened to all the samples on Auntie Maria's web site (Thanks, Auntie, for such a wonderful resource).
I still don't know if I like it. I ke Alo o Iesu at the beginning sounds almost like the Magnificent Seven theme. Not quite what I would have expected for such a simple gospel tune (reminds me of Will the Circle be Unbroken, which Patrick Landeza said that Uncle Dennis purposely wrote a song to sound like a southern gospel song---and I love it). Yes, all the "noise" is gone, and plenty of violins and french horns and timpani...but pure, plain and simple Iz was the best. Pure, unadulterated, from the heart beautiful.
What was wrong with what he did before? Is this an attempt to get more haoles to buy his music? I feel that it is like a slap in the face to Iz, to say that what he did before wasn't good enough and had to be fixed. I don't see adding orchestration as a tribute to him and his musical legacy. However, if it will lead people to want to explore more traditional Hawaiian music, then I reckon that would be OK. Jon DeMello's kuleana is to protect and preserve Iz's music (and to earn money for Marlene). I think Iz would say "liddle bit too much, boy". |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2007 : 1:53:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wcerto
Jon DeMello's kuleana is to protect and preserve Iz's music (and to earn money for Marlene). I think Iz would say "liddle bit too much, boy".
Hard to say. IZ knew that he wouldn't have a long life, that's why he left Makaha Sons of Ni`ihau to start a solo career. DeMello worked to structure it so that IZ would own a lot of his own rights (that's why he had his own "Big Boy" record company, rather than being a Mountain Apple artist); they all knew that the benefits would help out Marlene and Wehi someday.
I'm looking forward to hearing it, though - more with a producer's ear, however. |
Edited by - Retro on 06/27/2007 06:59:21 AM |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2007 : 7:33:02 PM
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Wanda,
Don't understand why all the fuss. I don't sense that anything in those samples was an attempt to negate what Iz did before. Personally, I like the pure and simple stuff the most, but I didn't sense anything harmful in those clips, just different. If it helps the family, if it brings Iz' voice to others, mo better, no? |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2007 : 12:28:44 AM
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| Ray - You are absolutely right...if it helps the family and if it brings Iz's music to others, definitely mo' bettah. I guess it is just my personal taste, that's all. It is amazing technology that he was able to accomplish this. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2007 : 2:44:05 PM
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In the time since last posting, I've heard the whole thing, front to back, a couple of times. Rather than waiting almost a month until I can write a review for the Northwest Hawai`i Times, I got this to say:
I like it. I like it a lot. But let's start with the "flaws."
Yes, having heard most of the original source recordings, I can tell where some of the time-stretching takes place, and in a couple of spots, it's disconcerting. There are also tracks that are weak enough that I don't think they fit the overall album as well ("Ka Huila Wai" - where the uke is slightly out-of-tune; that's cool when he's in a solo or smaller setting, but not here), and the synthesized enhancements to the opening brass lines on "Ke Alo O Iesu" hurt to hear.
But where the album shines is in the arrangements. Listen to "What A Wonderful World" at full volume, or on headphones. (Listen to the whole album that way, in fact.) The warmth, the lush richness of that arrangement - chicken skin. IZ's vocals throughout the disc are strong, powerful, clear - the way he was at his best; and the vocals are right up front on every track, never lost in the mix. It's clear that they wanted to keep him sounding as if he were being supported by the orchestra, rather than just a featured player.
In the tracks where his `ukulele playing is featured, that's also right up there, and you can tell that the arrangements were written to accompany all his stylistic flourishes (especially notable in "Henehene Kou Aka.") The ballads are where the arrangements are most touching: "White Sandy Beach," "E Ku`u Morning Dew" and "`Opae E" being some of the best examples.
What I don't understand is that the arrangers aren't identified - well, maybe they are. Jon de Mello and his father, Jack (who did those beautiful "Music of Polynesia" albums decades ago), are credited as "Orchestration Consultants." I think there's more to that story.
If you are a fan of IZ, and curious as to how this concept will work for you, try looking at this album as a ten-years-on tribute to one of the most influential voices ever to come out of Hawaiian music, rather than an attempt to improve upon or otherwise change the material that's already out there - besides, nothing here takes those sounds away from you, does it? If this is truly what IZ meant long ago when he told de Mello, "put shoes on me," then MAC did a respectable job with the footwear - and we still get him barefoot or in slippahs the rest of the time. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2007 : 01:27:19 AM
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Gregg - this is a very well written review. You considered points I never even thought of when I was listening. You have opened my eyes to a different perspective, that as a tribute rather than trying to improve upon what was already there. I guess I have been letting my attitude that there was nothing wrong with what IZ already did taint my willingness to accept this music as a tribute.
I see that you didn't like the intro to "Ke Alo o Iesu" either. It just didn't seem to go. A brass fanfare was not appropriate...there may have been other enhancements that could have been more in keeping with the type of song. I guess some of what I had trouble with is that as beautiful as the orchestrations/intros were, some times it just didn't fit. It sort of reminds me of taking Grandpa Jones' "Here Rattler" and adding strings and brass...doesn't belong and doesn't make the song better. But you are right that they don't trample over the vocals and `ukulele. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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