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Songlines UK Review of Kulcha Nation
 Mihirangi
Kulcha Nation
Black Market Music BMMR06 (42mins)
Four Stars
A vibrant splash of Maori nu-folk
Mihirangi
(pronounced “me-hee-rung-ee”) is a young New Zealand-born Maori
singer-songwriter who has been living in Australia for many years. A
former member of all-female groups Stiff Gins and Akasa, her vocal
style can be favourably compared to Ani DiFranco’s – it’s a seductive
combination of gutsy Maori strength and centred musical purpose. With
a solid reputation on the local festival circuit and two independent
EP’s already under her belt, Kulcha Nation is Mhirangi’s first proper album and a good international entry point for her creative repertoire.
The
opening ‘Poi Song’ – a tradition-based, percussion-driven Pacific chant
– quickly segues into her more original material. Lyrically concerned
with indigenous, environmental and spiritual issues, Mihirangi also
wears her political heart on her sleeve for the beat-boxed title-track,
a verging-on-hip-hop version of Akasa’s ‘World Citizen’ and the
sympathetic ‘Welcome to Our Country’, which features spoken commentary
from Aboriginal activist Isabel Coe.
Often
looping her vocals into carefully multi-layered harmonies, Mihirangi’s
most moving moments surface when she sings purely in Maori (‘Tena
Kautau’) or successfully alternates it with English, as on the lovely
‘Deeper’. The album has exceptionally clean production, and
percussionist Greg Sheehan deserves special mention for his propulsive,
non-intrusive backing.
Cooking up an
imaginative blend of contemporary vocal techniques and strong melodies,
Mihirangi’s innate respect for tradition continues to be her secret
ingredient. Kulcha Nation offers up a rich cultural recipe
that provides listeners with substantial audio nourishment. It’ll be
worth keeping an eye and an ear on this young woman’s musical
development.
Seth Jordan.
http://www.mihirangi.com/
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