Pacific Curls & Sarah Beattie - Pacifi Celta (Mai Music)

This is Pacific Curls third recording and – not having had the opportunity to see them perform in Canada during a BC festival tour in the summer of 2008 – my first exposure to this all-female folk trio.  Ignoring the old adage that you can’t judge a band by its CD cover, I wrongly assumed from the liner notes that the Pacific Curls’ fusion of Scottish fiddling and Maori traditions would prove to be an Aotearoan hybrid of the Wailin’ Jennys and Asani.  There are certain commonalities that sustain the comparison – most notably the rich quality of the two part vocal harmonies which evoke the Jennys; and a lyrical focus on spiritual well-being and the environment which they share with Asani.  However, the choice of instrumentation and the arrangements set Pacific Curls apart.  Close to evenly split between songs (in both Maori and English) and instrumentals, the recording is infused with an intimacy and warmth provided by the ukulele and cajon.  Meanwhile, Sarah Beattie’s expert fiddle is inter-woven with the vocals – sometimes joyously, sometimes in lament – effectively adding a third distinctive voice throughout.