Keali’i Reichel: Ke’alaokamaile: The Scent of Maile

Keali’i Reichel has produced an album which looks back and pays tribute to those who helped him arrive at the point he has now reached. His grandmother is omnipresent, touching everything he has done from his upbringing to his homes to his education and on.

In traditional Hawaiian culture, genealogy is as natural a part of life as breathing. Family lines are kept alive through chant and Reichel recites the lineage of his grandmother, Kamaile Puhi Kane. Chant is the breath of life — when Reichel chants, a sound emerges from deep within and his whole body resonates with an earth-shaking effect. Although he basically remains on one note, he twists and turns his voice. Behind him, the driving ipu (gourd drum) punctuates the chant.

This is followed by “Ka Nohona Pili Kai”, a song which describes Kamaile’s home. Again, his moving voice comes from deep within, but in contrast to the earthiness of the chant, now it is a gentle, soulful tenor as he sings of the ocean spray, the trees and plants which surround the home, their sounds and scents.

This versatility is noticeable throughout the album: the playful “Pupu A’o ‘Ewa”, with its key changes and vocal accompaniment; the heartfelt “For the First Time”; the tongue-twisting, mouth-watering “Na ‘Ono O Ka ‘Aina”; “Fields of Gold”, though written by Sting, with its Islands character; and another gymnastic chant. The 15 tracks present interpretations (some in English, some in Hawaiian) of traditional music, chant, and contemporary ballads.

Perhaps a little top heavy on the slow songs for my liking, it is still a fascinating mix, well arranged and warmly recorded. Numerous musicians including such notables as Kapona Beamer, Lehua Kalima Heine (of Na Leo Pilimehana), Willie K and John Koko (of the Makaha Sons) accompany Reichel. Guitarist Jamie Lawrence and strings arranger Clyde Pound also stand out with their contributions.

But most of all, it is the beautiful and wide-ranging voice of Keali’i Reichel that stands out. At times, it is as powerful as crashing waves, at times as sensual as a summer breeze — but it’s never a voice to ignore.