For fans of: Laid-back reggae with some hip-hop and soul mixed in.

I don’t know that I’ve ever received such a comprehensive press pack from an independent band before, but such effort must be commended. Kapakahi successfully attempts to present a strong message of the benefits of diversity, not only through their music, but their image and rhetoric. The band hail from San Francisco, although one could easily mistake the West Coast act as Hawaiian, with their laid back grooves and the assorted genres they draw from.

The opening title track Light Up is the best of the seven on this short album. It is an up-tempo number with a positive loving message and a memorable hornline. Download it free from the Kapakahi website. It’s love song after love song on this record and I’m afraid lyrically no song particularly stands out. Apart from Light Up, the other pick off this CD is Closer. Again it is the saxophone that lifts the song above mediocrity through its complementing of the vocal melody. The songs are as laid back as one could get with the tracks Miss Irie and Lonely, which is good if you love your Sunday afternoon reggae, but after Light Up I was just left wanting something with a bit more life. Put it down to my own taste perhaps.

Favourite tracks: Light Up, Closer

Overall: It’s a little bit too easy listening for me, but I genuinely believe the purpose of the band’s direction is achieved. I can see this record appealing to an eclectic musical taste, but for me I wanted more tracks with the life of Light Up.

Available from: http://www.kapakahimusic.com