MOODS OF THE MAORI

Te Ao Hou, March 1969, Page 61

MOODS OF THE MAORI HMV CSDM 6258 12 in. 33 ⅓ L.P. This is a sample of the type of Maori record which all companies put out from time to time — a pot-pourri of items, most of which have usually appeared on records devoted in whole to the particular group featured in the excerpt. It is an inexpensive way of putting together a new record and has the advantage for the casual buyer of variety of item and presentation. The album cover of ‘Moods of the Maori’ claims this to be a ‘unique collection’. I personally would substitute the word ‘undistinguished’ for unique. The notes go on to say, ‘… one may still hear the ancient love chants, poi dances, action songs and warlike hakas performed at any Maori pa’. This implies to me a country dotted with traditional Maori villages wherein one can wander at will and expect to hear a simple folk tilling their soil and performing haka and what-have-you with gay abandon. HMV would be well advised on future records to leave out such inaccurate nonsense and concentrate instead on notes which give some genuine information about the performing groups and their items instead of just their names. Side one begins with Hukarere Girls' College singing ‘Karu’. This is followed by the Waioeka Maori Cultural Group performing ‘E te Tau’. This is an item totally lacking any merit whatsoever. Personally I believe that this type of item degrades Maori culture. It starts as an action song. An obtrusive guitar belts out the rhythm in a style reminiscent of a steam hammer. In the middle of the item the group switches to English and for the rest of the time asks ‘Do yer lerve me, do yer, darlin’. Te Aute Maori Boys' College follow with ‘Hine e