Guest blogged by NonnyMouse
Tēnā koutou, y'all. As a few C&L regulars probably know, I'm leaving the UK after nearly a decade, and moving to New Zealand to start a new job and new life. New Zealand has been a hazy, lovely daydream for me for quite some time - but now that the reality is here, it's bigger and scarier and more exciting and daunting than I'd expected. I'm so sad to be leaving this extraordinary little English village I've come to love as my home - but my friends here are thrilled for me; I couldn't have more support or love anywhere.
One of them, the same university buddy who gave me Sanyo stereo system with a record player, also gave me a going-away present - ‘Oceania', a CD by New Zealand singer/songwriter Hinewehi Mohi and the lead singer of British post-punk band Killing Joke, Jaz Coleman.
Hinewehi Mohi has an incredibly haunting, pure soprano voice that made my hair stand on end, and has drawn her inspiration from traditional Maori poetry. Coleman has fused traditional Maori music with modern instruments and technology; the lyrics are all in Maori, and the majority of musicians are Maori. The sound has been described as a cross between Deep Forest and Massive Attack, and is first class, stunning music. ‘Kotahitanga' - which means ‘oneness' or ‘unity' - will have your feet tapping and your legs twitching to get up and join in the haka chorus, Maori and pakeha alike as... well... one.
Amazon also has a music sampler for a taste of the rest of the list, it's all gorgeous.
Tonight, I'm going to be stuck on a plane for next thirty hours. And it's going to be awhile longer before I'm hooked back into the ‘Inter-Tubes' and on C&L again. So e noho rā to everyone at least for now, and wish me well while you enjoy the music.
