Ria Hall – Rules Of Engagement
(LOOP)
Reviewed by Kate Taylor.
The phrase Rules of Engagement springs to mind militaristic notions and on Ria Hall’s album featuring the cream of New Zealand’s R&B, Soul and Hip Hop artists that idea does apply yet comes with so much more authentic intent and gravitas in detailing the lesser spoken about conflicts our of history, namely the New Zealand Wars of the 1800’s, specifically 1864’s Battle of Gate Pā (Pukehinahina). Known as one of the most important battles of the New Zealand Wars, the Battle of Gate Pā saw hugely outnumbered Māori defenders managing to hold off an experienced British force, and secure a famous, but perhaps not highlighted enough, Māori victory; mirroring the battles that today’s Māori generations swim against in the tide of systemic discrimination and marginalisation.
Rules of Engagement kicks into the powerful poetry of Te Kahupakea Rolleston on In These Trenches, a strong statement of ire is presented and followed meaningfully by Te Kawa O Te Riri where Ria Hall gives us the power and beauty of Te Reo girded to a fierce and emotive set of beats setting the pace of sentiment on the album superbly. Silky, relaxing guitar on Black Light melded with Mara TK’s vocals bring a masculine juxtaposition to Hall’s vocals and leads us into the gentler, but no less important pieces of the album. Sing Dance Dream is more upbeat and really showcases Hall’s ability to meld R&B smoothness with the rough and ready hip hop flows she provides, especially on the instruction to all her “people from around the way…it’s time to get it!”
Forever featuring Laughton Kora is a sweeping, emotional statement of intention of preserving and lifting high of culture, snagging on my ears with those familiar digital ripples that I’m used to hearing accompany Kora’s main man. Che Fu delivers an exquisite feature on Tell Me as we delve into that classic NZ R&B sensibility; while acclaimed Hip Hop kid Kings drops some bars on Barely Know as Hall takes the lead spitting verses that speak to isolation and the struggle of opening those doors that seem to always be slamming shut. Kōrero with Tiki (Taane) is a dreamy cut that starts with just that, a kōrero that spins into yearning for wider New Zealand society to embrace mauri ora and how good that would be for us all. Rules of Engagement wraps worthy questions into a meaningful piece of art touching on the struggles of the past with a quiet optimism for the future. It’s a passionate, balanced and important album that will yield more and more to your ngākau with each listen.
