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Pacific Curls: Pacific Swing

These three strong female musicians steeped in Maori and Pacific traditions bring a delightful contemporary perspective to their waiata, proving (as if it needed to be) that the indigenous music of our neighbourhood is healthy and bourgeoning. The harmonies on this recording are delightful, as is the virtuoso ukulele playing of Kim Halliday - the instrumental track Flukey Ukey is inspired. Songs are in Maori and English including the beautiful Purea Nei by the late Hirini Melbourne. One can almost feel his spirit departing on the wings of his own lament such is the rendition given by this trio. Not that this is a sad album by any measure. It swings. And it's all done with ukulele and guitar and a myriad of percussion, from cajon to hi-hat. The Pacific flavour is reinforced by an ode to "sister island" Rotuma, a remote Polynesian part of Fiji that Halliday strongly identifies with. All in all a rewarding listen.

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