Album Review: Te Kaahu O Rangi

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to review The Others Way Festival in Auckland. It is an interesting event in that it is held in venues either in or close to Karangahape Road, and I was determined to review in every venue at least once so made up a list comprising both artists I knew I just had to see (Shepherds Reign, Dance Exponents etc.) plus getting in and out of venues. Consequently, I found myself in Pitt Street Methodist Church in time to see Te Kaahu, a project by renowned pop singer Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngati Tiipa). To say I was stunned by what I witnessed was something short of an understatement and I was soon asking if there was an album, and if so, could I review it?

Whoever managed to book Te Kaahu into a church was inspired, as this album is full of music and performance which belongs in a place like that, full of light and room for the voices to swell. That night, Theia was accompanied by another singer and three musicians, and it was all about providing support for her incredible vocals. Here we get multi-tracked harmonies with some reverb, and an accompaniment which is designed to keep them front and centre. Performed completely in Te Reo, I must confess to not know what any of the songs are about, but they sound spiritual and if there are angels, I can imagine them singing like this, high and clean.

This album is quite unlike any other I have ever come across, and I am actually pleased that I cannot understand the words as it allows me to immerse myself in music which demands to be played on headphones when full attention can be provided to what is going on with no distractions. To say this is beautiful is something of an understatement, as it is uplifting and special in so many ways. Award-winning producer Jol Mulholland has worked with Theia to create something unique, something which she rightly describes as taonga tuku iho, something to be handed down the generations. There are plans to release this on vinyl at some point, which this fully deserves, but until then I urge all lovers of incredible spiritual singing to listen to this on headphones, on repeat. You will feel blessed that you have come across it.