If you thought you knew everything about Hawaiian music by reducing it to the ukulele, you are in for a surprise. J-Boog is not the only one carrying the flag of island reggae: with their second album "Ways and Means", The Green blow a wind of exoticism our way. At the start, four buddies from Oahu with the build of rugby players, who prefer to use their removal-man shoulders to make music. After a well-received first effort and an equally successful "across the USA" tour, The Green squatted the top ten of the Billboard Reggae Chart for 25 weeks in a row.
The Hawaiians are not here by chance. Caleb Keolanui, the lead vocalist and songwriter, is a child star who knew success from the age of 16. Likewise Zion Thompson, guitarist-percussionist, who realised at the age of 8 that he loved singing in public. Add to that the experience brought back from John-Pa Kennedy's travels and the traditional-musician background of Ikaika Antone, and you will have a slight glimpse of "The Green" style.
Signed to Easy Star Records (the label of the Easy Star All Stars) and joined by an army of musicians, they sit squarely in the line of their New Zealand neighbours Fat Freddy's Drop (minus the dub) or their Californian cousins S.O.J.A; Jacob Hemphill, incidentally, appears on Come In. One can only regret that they are a touch too consensual, and their risky flirt with R'n'B on some tracks (Decisions, Love and Affection, Gotta Be). We unquestionably prefer the stripped-back, thunderous roots of Love is strong, or to a lesser extent Keep on.
"Ways and Means" remains a complete album, packed with suggested influences that you catch in the turn of an inspired solo or between two lyrical flights of the quartet. From conscious lyrics to love ballads, you are easily lulled by the sometimes syrupy harmonies and the vaporous productions.
