PACIFIC CURLS & SARAH BEATTIE: Pacifi Celta
By Amanda Mills
Kim Halliday and Ora Barlow have been the backbone of the interesting Pacific Curls ensemble since it began five years ago. Along with Scottish fiddler Sarah Beattie they have created a fusion of Pacific and Celtic sounds that, while not entirely ‘Kiwi’, does nonetheless sound right at home. The vocals of Halliday and Barlow (in English, Maori and Rotuman) are ethereal, and are well complemented by the fiddle, which comes alive in Beattie’s hands, particularly on Whakarongo. Among the wide open musical spaces there are some intriguing oddities – Snuffaluffakis is quirky in the combination of fiddle, ukulele and cajon (box drum), while the traditional tune Catharsis would not be out of place in a Scottish dancing competition. On first impression the Pacific and Celtic styles of music don’t exactly fit, but the more you listen to the unique combination, the more it makes sense. The Pacific rhythms weld surprisingly seamlessly with the more melodic Celtic sounds, and create something that is both familiar and unexpected. Not for everyone, ‘Pacifi Celta’ is an interesting fusion of sounds, and is well deserving of a listen. •
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