The Descendants features a sampling of songs used in Alexander Payne’s Hawaiian-set drama starring George Clooney, using pre-existing music in place of original score, and at least on CD, it sounds like a smart choice, applying vocal and instrument pieces by Hawaiian artists spanning several dcades.

It might be a generational thing, but to an older swathe of the population, Hawaiian music conjures Don Ho crooning “Tiny Bubble” and cheesy comedy sketches in sitcoms and dopey romcoms (if not fifties & sixties exotica LPs), so it takes a second listen to warm up to the flow of the vocals, and ease into the calming harmonies of music composed and intimately performed by various Hawaiian artists.

The instrumental / vocal split runs around 70 / 30, and the older pieces sound refreshingly clear in their warm analogue sound. Not unlike the albums tied to Wim Wenders’ Buena Vista Social Club, The Descendants features a good smattering of folk songs performed with grace, and recorded with close mic placements that capture each musician’s intimate performance style. There are some harmonic similarities among the vocal tracks, but the largely solo guitar instrumentals (somewhat reminiscent of David Mansfield’s gorgeous work on Heaven’s Gate) add extra variety to the CD’s programme. In terms of classic songs, the CD closes with the English-sung “Mom,” a 1992 ditty deliberately retro-orchestrated & performed with an exotic female voice; and the vintage 1930 recording of "Ka Mele Oku'u Pu'Uwai."

Running at just under 60 mins., it’s a nice change from the standard music-from-and-inspired-by albums usually assembled by the major labels, and the album's soothing tone has a strange knack for disarming and forcing the listener into a state of total relaxation.

© 2011 Mark R. Hasan