Customer Reviews

Keola Beamer & Raiatea

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the best Hawaiian music albums in years; pairing the beautiful artistry of slack key guitar legend Keola Beamer with the gifted voice of Raiatea Helm. Their music, songwriting, and message breathes new life into the Hawaiian music genre - and with its innovative, eclectic mix, this CD crosses successfully into the world music category. Simply gorgeous sounds of the slack key guitar... The perfect music for your summertime, barbecues, drinks on the patio, days at the cottage, time with the kids, daydreams about island life - and even your wedding. A must-have for anyone, anywhere who has had the good fortune to spend time in the Hawaiian Islands or is dreaming of tropical paradise.

Both Raiatea and Leola sang mellow songs together and seperately. Raiatea has an absolutely beautiful voice!

I was not familiar with either of these Hawaiian performers before last week when I saw them perform a live 20-minute showcase at the Arts Presenters Conference in New York. I was taken by the nice combination of voices along with Beamer's expert playing of the Slack Key guitar. When I realized that they had been singing what turns out to be the tacky theme from the film Love Story and I was not turned off, I knew they were doing something right. So I had to hear their CD and, after listening, I must say that it pretty much mirrors what I heard live. That Love Story song is here (maybe hearing it sung in Hawaiian makes it more palatable for me) as well as some other American pop songs sung in Hawaiian. Sandy Denny's "Who knows where the tome goes?" is one and the albums highlight - saved for last in their live performance, but up front on the CD, is John Lennon's "Imagine".

I found Beamer's voice very soothing and it blends well with Raiatea's. This is a CD that will easily put you in a relaxed mood after a stressful day! The only weak point, in my opinion, was the final track where Raiatea goes solo on vocal, accompanying herself on the ukulele. Her voice is higher and sharper on this one track and, on repeat listening, I found myself hitting the stop button after Track 10.

Steve Ramm
"anything Phonographic"

The combination of Keola Beamer and Raiatea had the potential for greatness, and in most cases it did with the pure angelic voice of Raiatea and accompanying music by the classice slack key guitar master Keola Beamer. However the disappointment to the album, in my opinion, was it should have been left as such and not have Keola do any solo vocals on his own. It almost reminded me of the John Lennon/Yoko Ono album where you have to put up with Yoko's singing some solo tracks in order to hear John Lennon's classics. For me, Keola's vocal tracks took away from the possible greatness the album could have had left alone for Raiatea and her beautiful voice. My recommendation, just download Raiatea's tracks.

I've been in love wjth her voice since I heard it over the radio in
Hi. She has gotten better.

Keola Beamer is one of my favorite Hawai'ian performers. I have other titles by Raiatea. The later CD's by Raiatea were reviewed as having excess dependence on her use of "falsetto", I agreed. She has a beautiful normal voice !! On this album she uses some "falsetto", but there is more of her clear beautiful voice. Beamer is his usual spectacular self. I believe you will enjoy this album as much as I do.