REVIEW by PHIL WILSON Froots Magazine UK
TE VAKA
Amataga Spirit of Play WMCD1010
Aue! One shouldn’t take groups too much for granted. Despite the title, Amataga (The Beginning) is the eighth release by this New Zealand-based Pacific island group; but even if you’re at all familiar with their style, this album will still probably surprise. Te Vaka have clearly progressed greatly since their early days and the album shows unexpected depth, poise and maturity.
For although Amataga is still based around a well-produced mix of the expected – ‘island’ flava and pan-Pacific percussion work outs – it’s the songwriting that was the biggest revelation.
The group’s leader, guitarist, songwriter and producer, Opetaia Foa’i, is of solidly Pacific stock (Tokelau and Tuvalu) and has been described as “one of New Zealand’s finest songwriters”.
On Amataga we can see why. Foa’i’s songs not only celebrate Pacific culture (Majestic Dance and the possibly tongue-in-cheek Paradise) but are also by turn thoughtful (Big As You Are and a rueful My Sunny Days), heartfelt and topical. There’s a song about the MH370 air disaster, and another highlighting the under-reported struggle for freedom in Indonesian-occupied West Papua with the chanted refrain: “West Papua/ With you now/ Freedom/ Freedom now”.
Foa’i has dedicated this album to those trying to do something about injustice and the state of the planet; and with Amataga, Te Vaka show they have the music to back it up. |