An Indian-Irish trio from Onehunga are unabashed in their love of 60s girl-group pop.
The Sami Sisters
There’s no doubt special things can happen when siblings sing together, and years of childhood harmonising pay off in HAPPY HEARTBREAK (Parrot Diva Grump Records), the debut of the Sami Sisters. The Indian-Irish trio from Onehunga are unabashed in their love of 60s girl-group pop. On the 11 originals, one of the three usually sings lead, leaving the others to ooh, aah and answer like the Crystals or Shangri-Las. Producers Ed Cake and Jeremy Toy acknowledge the genre, with lots of twangy guitar and reverb-soaked tambourines, but aren’t too concerned with authenticity; there are synth strings and drum machines, too. Although Madeleine, Anji and Priya all contribute to the writing, the songs are connected by a running theme of love gone wrong. But you won’t find a maudlin moment; whatever relationship wreckage they have crawled out of, the Samis’ inclination is always to bind their wounds in a cheerful tune.
If Norah Jones-style stardom had happened when it was predicted for Hollie Smith, before her much-trumpeted deal with the US Blue Note Group fell through, I doubt she would now be making music as interesting or uncompromising as BAND OF BROTHERS: VOL 1 (Soundsmith/EMI). The first in a projected series of collaborations, it sets her extraordinary voice among the sonic and rhythmic constructions of Mara TK, son of guitar legend Billy TK and one-third of innovative Wellington band Electric Wire Hustle. TK likes his beats ambiguous and asymmetrical; miraculously, Smith finds spaces within the beatscapes to place her fluid soulful phrasings. Although easily the most abstract thing the singer has been involved with, it also features some of her most solid songwriting, with the deep soul of Promised Land Hotel a standout.