Joe Moe “Mainland” (Puluphonic Records, 2008)

Hawaiian art pop. It's not something you see every day

You wont have heard much like this before. You wont have heard anything like this before. This album should have been the soundtrack to a late 1960s film. It would be a lovestory about a boy who leaves Hawaii to follow his dream, to find fame and fortune and true love, but who can't leave the melodies and the feel of home behind for long. He hears the acoustic and psychedelic pop of the day and twists into it the sounds of his childhood. Joe Moe is the guy in that film and this is extraordinarily entertaining, and at times a little disturbing art-pop (the Van Dyke Parks song 'Cowboy' drums up some ghostly horse rider).

Thankfully, it all ends happily ever after.

Date review added:  Monday, May 04, 2009
Reviewer:  Lynne Pettinger
Reviewers Rating:
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