WHA CD review

Moana and The Tribe, 2008.

"Wha" is pronounced "Faa" and is Maori for "Four", this being Moana's fourth studio album.

It's a rich musical offering, drawing on both traditional and contemporary Maori styles/genres and Pakeha/world styles/genres.

This is shown beautifully in the song which opens and closes the album, a traditional Waiata Aroha (love song/lament) which is sung by a Maori elder as a solo at the start (and pretty close to the way you would have heard it before European contact), and at the end with Moana on vocals also, and with the backing of a string orchestra.

Not too long ago this kind of liberty-taking/experimentation with traditional material would have been frowned upon, to say the least.

One of the things that has been an exciting adventure for me over the last 30 years is to see the very real ways in which Maori language and culture has revived, strengthened and developed - and this album is a testimony to that.

Not only do we have the waiata aroha, but every song on the album is in Maori. This indicates obvious confidence in Te Reo as a language medium - one suggestion I have is to include an English translation of the lyrics - this would draw the non-Maori speakers/listeners more closely into the song worlds.

On the album we are treated to elements of haka, paatere (both different types of trad chant), taonga puuoro (Trad Maori instruments), reggae (a hugely popular musical style in Aotearoa!), and always incorporating the dulcet tones of Moana Maniapoto.

The range/variety of music is huge.

If you listen to this, and find yourself wanting to explore contemporary Maori music further, I recommend you try Tahi, Rua and Toru (yes, One, Two and Three!) by the same artist (Moana), and Tiki Taane's Past, Present and Future (slightly more testosterone-laden, though no less aurally adventurous!).

Nau mai,
Haere mai,
Whakarongo ki eenei puuoro kahurangi!

(Come, come and listen to these musical gems!)

9/10.