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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Monday, July 9, 2001

CD Review
Mana'o Company ensures aloha for everyone

The Mana'o Company returns with new CD

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

The Mana'o Company's new CD.

"All Day Music" by The Mana'o Company. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio format.

"SPREAD A LITTLE ALOHA" by The Mana'o Company, Dan Pa Productions, TMCCD 1006

The Mana'o Company is back in a big way — with two new members joining three original ones, without skipping a beat.

Harmonies rule; sweet five-part vocal smoothies are tasteful and refreshing. Just listen to the opening track, "All Day Music." It's mellow, a flashback to another time, a measure of tranquility and ease. 'Ono stuff.

TMC originals Danny Kennedy, Salaam Tillman and John Baricuatro Jr. have enlisted the presence and polish of Weldon Keauoha and Kaulana Pakele. The former is a former soloist, the latter previously with 'Ehukai. The voices are pliable and perfect for the group's reincarnation.

"Aloha," with Keali'i Reichel, Ho'onu'a and H-Dawg on slack key is likely the one to notice. It gives the disc its title; it magnifies the aloha spirit and its importance. Or, as Reichel sings, "aloha means hello, goodbye, I love you." The call is to spread the tonic all over the world. It's one of Kennedy's originals and it becomes contagious, the more you hear it.

Then there's Tillman's contribution, with Fiji adding the oomph, a rap at midpoint, which punctuates the delicious harmonies before and after. The reggae tempo is part of the appeal.

Youthful voices (Caleb and Micah Keolanui and J.P. Kennedy) augment "Driving Me Crazy," another gentle and relaxing entry.

Of course, if you want to stick with the "Island rhythm" fever, "Roots Rockin" is a hoot.

There are more reggae riffs on "O Sweet Reggae Woman," with B.E.T. guesting, and "Steppin Out/Hawaiian Children," which unites Three Plus with Fiji. Old TMC fans will approve; new ones will applaud.

And you probably won't be able to resist a remix bonus track of the earlier TMC signature, "96 Degrees in the Shade." What goes around comes around, with a smidgen of techno-pop tossed in for good measure.