Mau Power – “The Show Will Go On”
Materialising from the remote Thursday Island, Mau Power is a self described lyrical storyteller.
The first ever MC to record and tour from the Torres Strait region, he has managed to attract an admirable dose of notable guests for his debut record The Show Will Go On.
From the opening burst of ‘Let The Horns Blow‘ it is apparent that Power has plenty to say. Fusing hip hop and indigenous cultures, the album serves as an autobiographical soundtrack, stemming back to the more troublesome times of his late teens. After spending time behind bars Power emerged focussed and inspired and The Show Will Go On is the product of his determination to be heard.
He has bought along an impressive array of friends for the ride. The sultry vocals of Shirley Davis appear over alluring piano in ‘Transitions Of Life‘ while the unmistakable presence of Archie Roach adds some delectable spice to single ‘Freedom‘.
Power also dabbles more than competently in reggae, showcased in ‘For The People‘ and the aptly titled ‘Feel Good Music‘ where he is accompanied by Rik E Ragga.
Whilst the Christine Anu sampled ‘Island Home‘ emerges as a commercial standout the album highlight is the title track where the defiant tenacity of the vocal neatly encapsulates the general sentiment behind the whole record.
From start to finish The Show Will Go On is dripping with sincerity. At 15 tracks long is does perhaps overstay it’s welcome a touch and may have benefitted from culling a track or two. That said, the steady flow of collaborators do spice things up with a myriad of flavours, guaranteeing fans of hip hop a satisfying listen.
He can also be found clinging to his youth on a skateboard or wandering aimlessly through the bush.
- The Beards @ The Metro, 2nd July ’16 - July 8, 2016
- Parkway Drive @ Wollongong Uni, 25th June ’16 - July 1, 2016
- Basement @ The Factory, 27th May ’16 - June 3, 2016
