Album Reviews > Tutuki
SONGLINES Magazine UK Nov/Dec 2004
Sumptuous stuff from Aotearoa’s Pan – Pacific Polynesians New Zealand based band Te Vaka have consistently proved themselves to be one of the most sophisticated and professional Pacific groups around. Deserving WOMAD favourites, their performances are an impressive combination of vibrant log-drum rhythms, intricate vocal harmonies and hip-swivelling island dancing.But while their three previous recordings have all been pretty good, to my ear Te Vaka have never quite captured the exuberance of their big live shows. Until now, that is. Remaining true to their mixed Tuvalu/Tokelau/Samoa/Cook Island/Maori roots, Tutuki (Play the Beat) finds all the right balances; traditional but not too provincial, funky but not too Western, polished but not too slick. Frontman composer and co –producer Opetaia Foa’i has used his instinctive feel for the innate beauty of the Pacific melody, along with flawless production, to create a very spacious and elegant album. A lyrically diverse collection, the opening "Samulai" (Samurai) addresses Japanese overfishing of the Pacific, but is almost reminiscent of South African township jive, the deep male voices a counterpoint to the delicate female backing. Elsewhere ‘Manu Samoa’ praises the sporting/warrior talents of the Samoan culture, while "Tauale Mataku"(Terrifying disease) is a moving tribute to the Pacific region’s growing AIDS problem. On several tracks the band unleashes their formidable and rhythmically complex log drumming, and there’s no shortage of intense, thigh slapping percussion on the brief Maori haka influenced track "Oku Tupuga". Strong, stylish and sweet, Tutuki is an inspired album that could well prove to be Te Vaka’s most successful recording yet.
Seth Jordan www.songlines.co.uk
NEW ZEALAND MUSICIAN August/September 2004
World Class! 14 tracks of Polynesian emotion in various Pacific languages, including one in English. I have long enjoyed Te Vaka in live performance and am a fan of leader/songwriter Opetaia Foa’i. On ‘Tutuki’, he takes us with Te Vaka to their clarity of sound. From the first pipe notes that dress your ears for the funkiness of track one, Samulai, you will be driven musically to feel the warmth of whanau love, intimacy, heart love and dance. Vocally and instrumentally this is a fine recording performance. Guest vocalists Annie Crummer and Chris Thompson are surrounded by beauty from the lead vocals of Douglas Bernard (aka Fresh), Sulata, Melodee Panapa, Opetaia Foa’i – just to name some of the marvelous voices on this album. The instrumentalists too give performances of ease and freshness. Te Vaka’s ‘Tutuki’gets better with each listen. My favourite tracks? All of them. Out on Warm Earth Records.
Mahinarangi Tocker www.nzmusician.co.nz
SPASIFIK MAGAZINE July/August 2004
Te Vaka just gets better and better. Their fourth album Tutuki, won’t disappoint the hardest fans as once again Opetaia Foa’i and his team of 10 deliver their beautiful harmonies and drum beats from Tokelau, Tuvalu and Samoa blended with contemporary guitar and keyboard sounds. Their songs vary from the winsome to the impossible-to-sit-still upbeat sounds.
As with their previous albums, Te Vaka tackles serious issues affecting the Pacific Islands. This album is dedicated to raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, inspired by the bands invitation to perform at a conference on the subject in Fiji 2 years ago. The haunting strains of Tauale Mataku, sung in a mixture of English and Tokelau, is about this disease and the impact it has on sufferers. Then big Japanese business responsible for over-fishing parts of the Pacific is tackled in Samulai. But not all the songs are heavy – there are dance tracks that get you jumping in your seat if you’re not already up dancing, including Manu Samoa.
But the best track is Aivoli Taoa. I have hit the replay button about 100 times and I just love it more each time I hear it. This album is a definite winner.
Inga Stunzner www.spasifik.co.nz
WORLDBEAT CANADA - August 2004
Te Vaka means The Canoe in the language of Tokelau, a small chain of islands deep in the South Pacific. The band, Te Vaka takes their inspirational cues from their forefathers; explorers who traveled great distances by canoe. Their 11 members have come together from all over Polynesia including Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, The Cook Islands and New Zealand offering what has been described as “a stereotype smashing glimpse into the true soul of the South Seas.Tutuki or 'The Beat' is their 4th album and it solidifies them as the top group in all of Pacifica. There's always been a child-like innocence in Te Vaka's sweet melodies, further enhanced on the new album with the addition of the voices of real children. This coming to the table with palms pointed upward makes singer/songwriter Opetaia Foa'i's pleas all the more poignant. He's tackled Polynesia's most pressing concerns from environmental damage to racism and loss of culture through encroachment. On Tutuki he points to the arrival of the 21st century's plague to the islands of paradise, AIDS. But don't get me wrong, this disc is not a downer. In fact, it's as bubbly as the sea foam on a sandy beach and as buoyant as the outriggers the band took their name from. It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite track. Start to finish it's quite simply one of the best records of the year.
Worldbeat feature albums (Canada)
By Cal Koat www.worldbeatcanada.com
GLOBAL RHYTHM MAGAZINE USANovember 2004
With the increase of tourism and the rise of water levels due to global warming, traditional Polynesian culture in the South Pacific is under threat. Te Vaka, who sing mostly in Tokelau, an indigenous New Zealand dialect, and perform to the pulsing sound of the pate log drum, as well as other Polynesian and Western instruments, is here to preserve and promote that culture. Their latest album, Tutuki, combines tradition with innovation to pioneer a new pan-Polynesian musical direction. Though based in New Zealand, the band’s 11 members hail from all over the South Pacific, and they come together here to blend their voices into warm and earthy harmonies. Their lyrics speak of love, beauty and tradition, while maintaining a contemporary feel. The title track gives a good account Te Vaka’s uplifting harmonies, while “Magalogalo” offers up vibrant and captivating rhythms. One can almost feel the sea breezes, as Te Vaka takes you on a tour of Polynesia.
Nathan Gilbert www.globalrhythm.net
FROOTS MAGAZINE UK October 2004
It’s 10 years since Opetaia Foaí first dreamt up the idea of Te Vaka, his multi-cultural roots pop family band. Inspired by the navigational skills of the ancient Lapita voyagers, who discovered and settled islands scattered over vast parts of the Pacific Ocean, Te Vaka have done a whole lot of traveling themselves since, from their base in Auckland, New Zealand. In the process they’ve become firm favourites with audiences in Europe and North America, eventually bringing it all back home with now-regular chart success in Polynesia.
Tutuki is their fourth album and shows no indication of any desire to tamper with a successful formula. It’s the usual mix of warmly swinging, heartfelt ballads and driving disco-friendly workouts punctuated by rootsy staccato percussion intervals, featuring their unique battery of log drums. Their explosive power is best heard on the thrilling Lakilua, with it’s infectiously ecstatic cries and satisfying, earthy thunks on skin and wood. If there’s one difference, the production seems crisper than their 2002 album Nukukehe, highlighting those lovely sibling harmonies and Opetaia’s considerable skills on acoustic guitar – best heard on the gently surging Tauale Mataku. Opetaia handles the bulk of the lead vocals too, apart from a couple of tunes from Sulata Foai-Amiatu. New member Douglas Bernard duets with her on the rather cloying Tamahana, which was composed for the movie The Legend of Jonnny Lingo and is thus the only song mainly in English. And even though the chants on Oku Tupuga sound very like a traditional Maori haka, it’s an original haka composed by Opetaia in the Tokelau language.
This is a confident album from a band who seem happy to stay in more or less the same place while building on their strengths. Regular fans will probably be more than happy with it, but those hoping for something a little different will have to wait for the pure percussion and Tuvalu language planned for release after the next Te Vaka album. www.tevaka.com
Jon Lusk
FROOTS MAGAZINE UK www.frootsmag.com