Te Kaahu - Album Review: Te Kaahu O Rangi
A few months ago, I was fortunate enough
to review The Others Way Festival in Auckland. It is an interesting event in
that it is held in venues either in or close to Karangahape Road, and I was
determined to review in every venue at least once so made up a list comprising
both artists I knew I just had to see (Shepherds Reign, Dance Exponents
etc.) plus getting in and out of venues. Consequently, I found myself in Pitt
Street Methodist Church in time to see Te Kaahu, a project by renowned pop singer
Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngati Tiipa). To say I was stunned by what I
witnessed was something short of an understatement and I was soon asking if
there was an album, and if so, could I review it?
Whoever managed to book Te Kaahu into a church was inspired, as this album is full of music and performance which belongs in a place like that, full of light and room for the voices to swell. That night, Theia was accompanied by another singer and three musicians, and it was all about providing support for her incredible vocals. Here we get multi-tracked harmonies with some reverb, and an accompaniment which is designed to keep them front and centre. Performed completely in Te Reo, I must confess to not know what any of the songs are about, but they sound spiritual and if there are angels, I can imagine them singing like this, high and clean.
This album is quite unlike any other I have ever come across, and I am actually pleased that I cannot understand the words as it allows me to immerse myself in music which demands to be played on headphones when full attention can be provided to what is going on with no distractions. To say this is beautiful is something of an understatement, as it is uplifting and special in so many ways. Award-winning producer Jol Mulholland has worked with Theia to create something unique, something which she rightly describes as taonga tuku iho, something to be handed down the generations. There are plans to release this on vinyl at some point, which this fully deserves, but until then I urge all lovers of incredible spiritual singing to listen to this on headphones, on repeat. You will feel blessed that you have come across it.
About Te Kaahu
Te Kaahu’s debut album Te Kaahu O Rangi was released to critical acclaim in 2022, winning this year’s Taite Prize: Best Debut award and receiving nominations for Best New Artist at the 2022 Rolling Stone Awards; Best te reo Maori Album in the 2022 Waiata Maori Music Awards, Best Alternative Artist in 2022 AMAs; Favourite Album, Favourite Single, Favourite Solo Act and Tohu Puoro o te reo Maori at the 2022 Student Radio Network Awards.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Te Kaahu
Releases
Other Reviews By Kev Rowland
07 Jul 2023 // by Kev Rowland
So it was down to Tuning Fork for the first night of the second Crushfest festival. Tonight was going to be Wellington and Auckland bands, and then some of the same will be playing at the second night in Wellington next month.
Read More...
Rain - Single Review: Love and War
15 Jun 2023 // by Kev Rowland
It has been quite a while since I last heard from Wellington-based singer songwriter Cathy Elizabeth, and back then Rain was seen solely as a studio project with Cathy being accompanied by Thomas Te Taite, who provided all the instrumentation including digital drums. Now they are a full band who have been performing live, and it is the first time they have recorded as such, with Thomas now, just providing acoustic guitar (plus engineering and producing etc.
Read More...
Lost Vessels - Single Review: All This Time
01 Jun 2023 // by Kev Rowland
I must admit I was not that impressed when I first saw Lost Vessels play at Crushfest, something they later admitted to me was the worst gig of their career, but since then they have improved in leaps and bounds. This has been noticed by others on the Auckland circuit as they are getting more opportunities with better support slots, and I was not at all surprised when they won the Ding Dong Lounge Battle Of The Bands in November last year.
Read More...
Unwanted Subject - Single Review: Sons of Savages
28 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
I have caught Unwanted Subject in concert a few times over the last couple of years, and while they have been getting better each time I have seen them, I must admit that nothing prepared me for this, which right from the off is a monster. I have never heard them quite this is aggressive, nor as polished, and this multi-sectioned single sounds almost like a different band as they have pushed their metal roots to the max in this metalcore beast which sees them mixing and blending different genres to create something quite special.
Read More...
Gig Review: Stray Dogs @ AUX, Auckland - 26/05/2023
28 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
So it was back to Ding Dong Lounge on a Friday night for one of their infamous Emo nights, which tonight was a three-band bill with Stray Dogs having an extended set, supported by Altaea and then up first we had Blindr, a band new to me. Blindr are a quartet featuring Bill Caldwell (vocals, guitar), Blake Woodfield (lead guitar), Jack Power (bass), and Charlie McCracken (drums).
Read More...
Gig Review: Turkey The Bird @ The Ministry of Folk, Auckland - 27/05/2023
27 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
Back up to Auckland Guide Centre in Mount Eden tonight for my second consecutive gig (Sol suggested it was a turkey sandwich as I am at Vader tomorrow) to see Taranaki’s finest, Turkey The Bird at The Ministry of Folk. Before that we of course had Hoop, who are Al Baxter (vocals, guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin), Nick Edgar (vocals, guitar, ukulele, flute, harmonica), Emily Allen (violin, viola), Glenn Coldham (bass) while tonight Gary Hunt was filling in for drummer Rusty Knox.
Read More...
This Silent Divide - Single Review: Beautiful Creature
25 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
Here we have the latest single from Wellington-based melodic hard rock quartet This Silent Divide, entitled Beautiful Creature. I really enjoyed their Tall Stories EP, and they played a great gig at Dead Witch towards the end of last year, and this would have been recorded at about the same time.
Read More...
Gig Review: Emily Rice @ Your Local Coffee Roasters, Pukekohe - 24/05/2023
24 May 2023 // by Kev Rowland
Earlier this week I had a message from Emily Rice asking me if I lived in South Auckland. When I responded I did, she asked if I would be interested in coming along to an event she was putting on in a coffee shop in Pukekohe to celebrate the release of her new single, Warenoa.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- TOO SWEET
Hozier - BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Benson Boone - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - LIKE THAT
Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar - END OF BEGINNING
Djo - I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
Artemas - WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
Ariana Grande - STICK SEASON
Noah Kahan - TEXAS HOLD 'EM
Beyonce - LEAVEMEALONE
Fred Again.. And Baby Keem
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
