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‘Got This Music’
Natural Vibrations (Go Aloha Entertainment)
With 15 years of popular success, five hit albums and three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for best reggae album to their credit, Natural Vibrations owns an important spot in the local music scene. The Vibes’ sixth album — the official release date is Tuesday — builds on that solid foundation in commanding style. All songs are originals, guest artists are used sparingly, and the arrangements showcase the members’ strengths as vocalists and musicians.
They open with a spirited uptempo number, "Party & Dance," that’s perfect for both activities. The song is one of seven written by vocalist PeniDean Pua‘auli. His work covers a variety of topics. For instance, "Gotta Get Away" starts with tales of doctored drinks and female impersonators, and segues into a call for unity.
Other members make important contributions as songwriters. "Can’t Stop," by guitarist Wayne Enos, makes excellent use of the group’s knack for multipart vocal arrangements. Jehua Evans gives them a powerful anthem with "Got This Music" — they certainly do!
Tim "Papa T" Troxell of B.E.T. guests on the final song, "Sensi Nation," as the Vibes speak out for marijuana use. "Sensimilla (is) good for you," they sing, calling on members of the "sensi nation" to "rise up against oppression" and smoke some. "Got to have it, yes we need it, and we want it," T sings defiantly as the song fades out.
Several years of prep work went into Liana Mason’s eponymously titled six-song debut CD. She sang in karaoke contests, studied songwriting and partnered with songwriter-guitarist Ev Fox for gigs at Hank’s Cafe Honolulu in Chinatown. Mason and Fox then teamed up with Hoku Award-winning record producer Pierre Grill to complete her transition from karaoke singer to recording artist. The result is a commercially viable showcase for Fox as a writer and for Mason as a vocalist.
The crown jewel is a song they co-wrote, "Freakin’ Wonderful." It’s a dark and moody love song that shows Mason’s range and skill at interpreting good lyrics. A second Mason-Fox composition, "Falling," switches between classic ’50s rock and contemporary pop.
Mason is also nicely served by Fox’s other work. "Little Piece of You" displays her potential as a contemporary country-rock artist. "Perfect Nightmare" takes her further into mainstream rock and would be an excellent theme for one of those vampire romance movies.
The only remake, "Roxanne," is an oddity, and not only for the subject matter. Mason doesn’t need to be doing remakes when she has Fox to write for her.
Who says there’s nothing good for free in Waikiki? This five-song CD, the second in the Waikiki Beach Walk "Na Mele Aloha ‘Aina" series, is free to anyone who takes a coupon from "The Best of Oahu," a free visitor publication, to any retail shop on the second level of Waikiki Beach Walk (one CD per person).
The opening song is an anonymously written tribute to Waikiki Beach Walk but the others are island standards. Hema Pa‘a (William "Baba" Alimoot and Chris Kamaka) does a beautiful rendition of "Aloha ‘Oe," Marlene Sai is regal as always on "Makalapua," and steel guitarist/co-producer Greg Sardinha is joined by Bryan Tolentino in an instrumental treatment of "Beyond the Reef."
Artist bios are a plus to any Hawaiian music project — especially those intended primarily for visitors — and producer Blaine Kia provides them. On the other hand, there is no excuse for ever omitting composers’ credits from a Hawaiian CD and they are missing from this one.
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With 15 years of popular success, five hit albums and three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for best reggae album to their credit, Natural Vibrations owns an important spot in the local music scene. The Vibes’ sixth album — the official release date is Tuesday — builds on that solid foundation in commanding style. All songs are originals, guest artists are used sparingly, and the arrangements showcase the members’ strengths as vocalists and musicians.
Several years of prep work went into Liana Mason’s eponymously titled six-song debut CD. She sang in karaoke contests, studied songwriting and partnered with songwriter-guitarist Ev Fox for gigs at Hank’s Cafe Honolulu in Chinatown. Mason and Fox then teamed up with Hoku Award-winning record producer Pierre Grill to complete her transition from karaoke singer to recording artist. The result is a commercially viable showcase for Fox as a writer and for Mason as a vocalist.
Who says there’s nothing good for free in Waikiki? This five-song CD, the second in the Waikiki Beach Walk "Na Mele Aloha ‘Aina" series, is free to anyone who takes a coupon from "The Best of Oahu," a free visitor publication, to any retail shop on the second level of Waikiki Beach Walk (one CD per person).