Paul Prince

Ocean Bells
2003 Afropolynesian Records

Stocked by: PaulPrince.com, Dandemutande

Standout tracks: Kuzanga, Kona Ragtime, Chemutengure

After playing at WOMAD and the Edmonton Folk Festival, guitarist Paul Prince puts his skills to work, crafting a guitar paradise on his album Ocean Bells. Paul combines fingerstyle guitar, with elements of both Zimbabwean and Hawaiian music - unsurprising since the Honolulu-born musician honed his skills during time with Thomas Mapfumo's Blacks Unlimited.

Included on the album are three Thomas Mapfumo covers, including Usatambe Nenyoka, Hondo, and Hwa Hwa. Prince does a good job covering all of them - fusing his personal style with Zimbabwean chimurenga. You don't forget you're listening to a Mapfumo song, but it's not without the artist's own influence. The Zimbabwean covers aren't cutouts - they flow endlessly with their minimalist production.

My personal favourite is Kuzanga, which features Paul on guitar and mbira songstress Beauler Dyoko on vocals. This song particularly surprised me - not a tremendous fan of traditional Shona music, I was captivated by the force of her voice and the unassuming guitar in the background. Could this song inspire my interest in traditional Shona music? Possibly…

A cover of All Along the Watchtower surprisingly fits. You don't realize that you're listening to a cover song, until you check track lists. That's a feat in my books. Other Highlights of the album include three Hawaiian pieces. Kona Ragtime is a delight, while Hilo Two-Step and Wai'anae Slack-Key Hula don't disappoint.

Paul's own compositions clearly stand up to his cover work. Dakar Guitar highlights Paul's skill with harmonics, taking on a darker tone than the rest of the album. Mukoma-Elder Brother and Zipembere Ziguru takes your mind to Great Zimbabwe, back from Hawaii.

Upon listening to the album, one wishes there was more Hawaiian guitar within the Zimbabwean songs. The Hawaiian interlude keenly placed in the traditional Shona piece Chemutengure fits so well, you're left gasping for more as the CD goes on. It suits the song wonderfully.

The title track, Ocean Bells seems to harken back to a different source. More classical than African, it displays some interesting use of harmonics, yet lacks the lilting feeling as the other songs - it seems to chug along, the flow sometimes sputters due to its intricate timing. As an amateur guitarist myself, I found this song intriguing. I'm just not sure how your average listener would react. However, this is a very minor concern.

Paul Prince's own songs shine on the albums, while he makes covers overwhelmingly his own. It is no wonder why Guitar Player Magazine named Paul Prince as one of two finalists in their International Fingerstyle Competition. Listening to Ocean Bells, you can't help but wish you were protecting your Kauai Cocktail from the ocean's gentle waves. I guess my beach screensaver will have to do for now.