Post #28268 by Tiki Chris on Thu, Mar 27, 2003 3:20 PM

Here's a review which I posted: April last year:

Petty Booka's full length CD "Hawaiian Pure Heart" arrived a couple of days ago, and I've been listening to it virtually nonstop since! Petty Booka is a girl duo from Japan on the Sister label (an all girl groups label from Japan). Their name is a joining of the names of the two vocalists: Petty Asano and Booka Suskida, who appear on the inside of the CD jewel box adorned with plastic lei, cellophane grass skirts posing with ukuleles in hand.

Apparently, they were a recent sensation at Austin's SXSW:

http://www.sister.co.jp/PettyBookaUStour/index.html

"Hawaiian Pure Heart" is a collection of 13 cover songs spanning the gamut from oldies to Hawaiian traditional to 80's hit songs - all done with an "authentic Hawaiian arrangement," which means with ukes and vibes and lap steel and bongos! The duel vocals are endearinly well sung and kooky with an emphasized Japanese accent on certain lyrics so that words like "Honolulu" comes out "Honoruru".

The excellently chosen first track of the album is the classic Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini, alternately sung in English and Japanese. The girls brilliantly start the song (and entire album) off with goofy bird calls (YES!) which are soon followed by bongos and bass with steel guitar falling in line accordingly.

Other highlights on the album include:

Culture Club's Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? which starts off slack key style, We'll Sing in the Sunshine, The Tide is High, and Vaya Con Dios.

In addition to "Hawaiian Pure Heart" Petty Booka have 4 (!!!) other Hawaiian albums:

Toconut's Hawaii, Blue Lagoon on which MARTIN DENNY makes a guest appearance, Summer Breeze and Ukulele Lady.

According to their website,

http://www.sister.co.up/pettybooka

these albums were recorded by Petty Booka from Hawaii. They've also done a couple of country albums (by Petty Booka from Texas), a bluegrass album (by Petty Booka from Kentucky), a Christams album and an album dedicated to songs about rain. I'm dying to get my ears wrapped around the CD with Martin Denny on it!

This is definately one of the goofiest, kitschiest, most tongue-in-cheek bands I've come across in a long time. The music pays homage to and also mixes well with classic exotica and Hawaiian while still sounding fresh and current.

Fun stuff that's worth checking out.

Tiki Chris