Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to catch these guys at Spark Arena and it was truly one of the greatest concerts I have ever attended. Given that my idea of a great night often consists of high energy metal of one type or another, I would not normally say that about an evening of light opera. Some of the songs they performed that night are now here on this 12-track album which is a delight from beginning to end. Since Pene Pati, Amitai Pati and Moses Mackay, first performed together to raise funds for their overseas opera training, Aotearoa have held them close to our hearts. Not only are they three wonderfully trained singers, they have the togetherness and companionship which only comes from growing up in a close family, and the two brothers and their cousin have fun when they perform together.
That comes through on this album, as you can hear them smiling at each other as they take us through a series of contemporary and light classic material. This means that while we have standards such as Romanza and E Ipo, they are right next to Sylvia’s Mother and If. Their third studio album is a very much stripped-down affair, with little in the way of over-the-top accompaniment, sometimes just a ukulele while of course there are also times when it is just their voices. The toms and double bass on Don’t Worry Be Happy assist them in turning the Bobby McFerrin number into something even more joyous. Their harmonies are a delight, but one would just not expect anything less.
Towards the end of the album is a song which takes a lot to make it into their own, but the power behind Hallelujah can only come from professionally trained singers. Moses sings the first verse on his own in his baritone, Amitai performs the second, with Pene the third, with the piano accompaniment building until they get to the next chorus, where everything drops away and they sing the chorus together, softly, just their voices. Then, suddenly they swell and the song lifts in a full celebration. A special mention must be made of award-winning producer Nic Manders (Six60, Katchafire) who has allowed the guys to really shine, at the centre of a very special album indeed.
Anyone in New Zealand will have a certain expectation of Sol3 Mio, as they are incredibly beloved, and this album has allowed them really to demonstrate their talents without being hidden behind orchestration and over production, with their voices ringing freely and powerful. If you don’t hail from Aotearoa and have no idea who these guys are then pop over to YouTube and play the video for the finest world cup anthem ever performed, I See Fire from 2015. Then everyone go out and get the album.
Rating: 10/10
Links:
https://www.sol3mio.com/
https://www.universalmusic.co.nz/
