KAVA KAVA
Maui (Chocolate Fireguard)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

What sets Kava Kava apart from other trancey, vibey electronica is the vocals of Pat Fulgoni. He's got a soulful, powerful voice that is also pretty hypnotic on its own. Also, the music is superior to most of what's going on in the genre, thanks largely to living, breathing musicians playing guitar, bass and drums. In fact, Kava Kava is a quartet with just one member, bassist Jason Riley, assigned to provide the electronica flourishes. Guitarist Matt Bond uses the instrument for delicate coloration and texture, a choice that works very well for Kava Kava, as each song sounds layers deep. Mick Reed is a solid drummer, always right in the pocket, and once in a while there's a little bit of startling electronic augmentation, like a hyper-roll laced into his beats. A very nice package, all together, with Fulgoni's voice ripping through the mix to grab you by the backbone. Great for 71 minutes of intense trippin'.

© 2005 - DJ Johnson