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REVIEWS Curls and violinist in a while and a whisper review by Jo Say, The Nelson Mail I'm all at sea! Once again, the hauntingly beautiful sounds of Pacific Curls with Sarah Beattie have left me shipwrecked in their astounding talent. After their performance last night at The Playhouse in Mapua, I am left with a delicious sensation of having been on an around-the-world adventure - two Polynesian women and a Scot, collectively taking us on a musical OE with a totally unique combination of Maori, Pacific, Cajun, Celtic, Bluegrass and even African sounds. Pacific Curls are a band whose individual high-quality musicianship ensures that they are at the forefront of contemporary music coming out of Aotearoa. World-class violinist Beattie wows audiences with tracks like the astonishingly fast Orange Blossum, but slower numbers such as a Scottish waltz, played in the first half of last night's show, are so hauntingly sweet that they wrench at your heart with their accomplished beauty. Kim Halliday is a virtuoso ukulele player and one of the two members of Pacific Curls. With Kalimba Trance, she serenely and exquistely proved that any audience can be completely silenced. Her playing of the kalimba (a finger-plucked African instrument) transfixed the crowd with this most divine of tunes. Then there's Ora Barlow. Her stunning vocal range dazzled us in songs like Samba Uke, where she switched effortlessly in the twinkle of a gorgeous eye from imitating Louis Armstrong to being a vocal beatbox, hip-hop style, to haunting, soaring lyricism. She does this effortlessly while sitting on and playing stomp box (percussion) with hands, bare feet and brushes, radiating grace and charisma. The next time Pacific Curls with Sarah Beattie come to the region, don't miss out. Go see them and close your eyes. Listen to the purring whirl of poi fluttering together with a haunting Irish West Coast fiddle, the cheeky Fijian ukulele galloping alongside the flamenco stomp box, a foot-stomping, fast and furious Scottish reel leaving you breathless, followed by the whispering of taonga puoro. Weaving in and over and through it all you'll hear powerful gorgeous vocals in te reo and English. What other band in New Zealand is producing such an amazing, eclectic fusion of world music with such accomplishment? Pacific Curls are awash with talent - they can take me sailing any day. Sat Mar 1 2008
Nz Musician Magazine These
three strong female musician steeped in Maori and Pacific traditions bring
a delightful contemporary perspective to their waiata, proving (as it's
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 tracks
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, guitar and a myriad of percussion from
cajon to high-hat. The pacific flavour is reinforced by an ode to sister
island Rotuma, a remote Polynesian part of Fiji that Halliday strongly
identifies with. _____________________________
Mike Jackson, Wombat Music _____________________________ "Different... Refreshing..." Maniapoto FM _____________________________ Waikato Times 31 May 2007 by Martin Tiffany This is definetly not what I expected when I put my hand up to give this album a whirl. I listened: it was not the usual upbeat Pacific rhythms often heard in the islands. It was not the fusion-Pacific hip-hop favoured by the younger Pacific people in New Zealand - as often heard on Niu FM. It was not the gentle island sound that makes you think of the breeze through the coconut trees and balmy island nights. I listened further. I jumped on the net and did some research on Pacific Curls. Words such as "extraordinary", "spiritually uplifting", "different" and "refreshing" pop up when people describe the group and its music. I nod in agreement when reading these descriptions. I would probably also add "haunting". I find out the trio - of Maori / Pacific origin - are Ora Barlow, Kim Halliday and Mahina Kaui - women with great voices, an impressive resume of performing experience and musical talent, including being able to play a raft of instruments, many traditional. The original songs, melodies and arrangements were all pervasive, and most underpinned by a ukulele backbeat. It's a smooth combination of swing and jazz, all mixed up in a pot of haunting Pacific sounds.
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