‘Attacks’ its Items

Te Ao Hou, March 1964, Page 58

‘Attacks’ its Items To use a military term, the group attacks its items, and the clarity of diction is particularly commendable for all items. There is some excellent singing in the action and group songs. Unfortunately the two hymns featured are the weakest items. They lack depth and substance. Despite a little uncertainty at the beginning of ‘Ringa Pakia’ the hakas are crisp and polished with the words coming through clearly and precisely—something which is often absent from recorded haka performances. The purist may object to the inclusion of two nursery rhymes—‘Hori had a Little Lamb’ and ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’—but the performance was recorded at Radio Malaya and such items provide the variety necessary to maintain the interest of Asian audiences. Furthermore the rhymes are performed with typical Maori vigour and robust humour and one is an amusing spoof of the action song. This enjoyable record should prove popular both here and overseas.