Aloha Got Soul US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: A remarkable retrospective compiled and carefully curated by Aloha Got Soul as hugely influential composer, soundscape conjurer and devotional musician Robert Myers enjoys full focus. With detailed notes and stories of each track's narrative, Robert's largely beatless wind and synth paintings are at once lavish, subtle and endlessly deep. Cosmic, progressive and laced with more and more intricacies to spot on every listen, this is a spell-binding historical exercise.

Review: A self-titled opus, the OG presses of Aura's one and only album have been known to fetch over L100 while the 2016 Aloha Got Soul reissue was supported across the board from Theo Parrish to Giles Peterson. Here are two of the most delectable highlights in bright white 45" form; "Let Me Say Dis About Dat" is all about the crunchy riffs and rock funk fusion while "No Beginning, No End" is a thrilling disco funk cut that has aged to perfection. Limited and likely to fly.

Review: Bedroom beat producer Blank Check has teamed up with Honolulu's Aloha Got Soul and Tokyo's Grand Gallery for this majestic new six-song EP which comes on tidy 10" vinyl. It's mega limited with only 300 copies produced and it showcases loop-based music that evokes a floating sensation, which is reminiscent, say the accompanying notes, of Tommy Guerrero's world view. The instrumental sound features a dub-like quality that perfectly captures an urban mellow vibe that feels both original and authentic. Essentially it serves as a soundtrack to a short film that immerses you in atmospheric and cinematic soundscapes.

Review: Few records capture the essence of Hawai'i like the debut album by Steve Ma'i'i and Teresa Bright. It is one full of enchanting sounds and beachy grooves which caught the attention of engineer Rick Keefer who invited them to record at Sea-West Studios in Hau'ula. Remarkably, the duo completed the album in under three hours and the results are sublime and stunning as well as perfectly escapist. Steve and Teresa are a harmonising guitar-and-bass duo who came up in the 70s and 80s and blended jazz standards, traditional Hawaiian songs, and hapa haole classics. These days, the classic title tune 'Catching A Wave' is performed at weddings and festivals, yet the album has long been out-of-print. Not any more - this vital reissue is a must have.

Review: We're big fans of Aloha Got Soul and that only deepness when we learn about this new project, Mix Plate. It's a compilation spotlighting fresh music from emerging artists rooted in Hawai'i after the label has traditionally focused on reissuing overlooked gems from the 1970s and 1980s. Now they mark a shift towards supporting today's voices. Featuring artists who call Hawai'i home-some staying, others returning after venturing elsewhere-the compilation celebrates their commitment to shaping the island's contemporary sound. Through their music, they express identity, heritage and experience while also offering a healthy respect for the past.