Various: Our Music Vol 1

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * *)

This 20-track collection of tangata whenua artists — some famous, some forgotten, some overlooked like Sonny Day with Springsteen's Saving Up — can be sentimental (Dean Waretini's The Bridge, Prince Tui Teka's Mum), smile-inducing (the Maori Hi Marks' Hoki Mai medley, Ruia and Ranea's te reo cover of Marley's Waiting in Vain) or serious (the affirmative action Black Pearl by Moana and the Moa Hunters).

There are the familiar like Patea Maori's Poi E, Emma Paki's System Virtue, Herbs' French Letter and Southside of Bombay's What's the Time Mr Wolf? Then there's the old guard: Bunny Walters' big belter Brandy, John Rowles' Cheryl Moana Marie and Jon Stevens' Montego Bay. It sounds unfocused but isn't because it is our music, as the title says.

Comes in a paua shell pattern cover and announces itself as "Volume 1". Hoorah. Liner notes next time though.

Label: BMG