20 Jul 2009 // A review by Miss_Jukebox
The future is Flux. Tiki Taane released his solo effort Past Present Future in 2007 and received critical praise and popular acclaim for this album. But for Tiki, this was not enough. Feeling a whole new potential in Past Present Future, Tiki has remastered, remixed and regenerated the tracks, the product being 2009’s Flux. Remix albums can be jeopardising projects. They can be seen as pure self-absorption. But Flux is self-indulgence done right. Tiki, the showman, never forgets his audience, and this one is certainly an audience pleaser.

Tiki has created Flux without compromising any of the qualities from the original work. He not only evokes his own history as a long established musician but also pinnacle moments in New Zealand history and culture. An example of this is the opening track ‘David Lange You Da Bomb’ which electrifies excerpts from the late former Prime Minister during the nuclear crisis. The choice of this song to commence Flux launches it as an important and future classic Kiwi album. And the rest of the album works to confirm this perception.

‘Our Favourite Target’ featuring and co-written by Julia Deans features three times on this album, which is rightful for one of New Zealand’s finest vocalists. The ‘Pacific Heights Remix’ is the chill out version in which Tiki manages to capture pulsing bass rhythms. The ‘Antiform Remix’ is the trance-based version which is infectiously dance-inducing. The ‘Trei Remix’ is the weakest of the three remixes but nevertheless Deans vocals are always a pleasure to hear.

‘Burning Fire (Oogun Remix)’ is a heavier and harder track which is balanced with the beautiful harmony of Tiki’s vocals. ‘It’s All In Your Head (Dutty Ranks Remix)’ contains the haunting vocals of Celia Church creating an eerie and emotive atmosphere.

Then the listener is treated to the first of two remixes of ‘Tangaroa,’ one the defining tracks of the album. A tribute to the Maori God of the Sea both the ‘Bulletproof Remix’ and the ‘Sambora Remix’ show the mastery of this musician acquiesces traditional Maori myth and verse and also twenty-first century digital composition.

‘Dub Soldier’ and ‘Wotcha Got (Teknik Remix)’ are solid electronic numbers incorporating Tiki’s white hot vocals. ‘Now This Is It (State Of Mind Remix)’ is a drum ‘n’ bass track reminiscent of Tiki’s collaboration with Concord Dawn. ‘Always On My Mind (Mosus & Zero T Remix)’ is a nice alternative to the original version and renews vitality for those who may have tired from the commercial use of the track.

‘Music Has Saved Me (Overproof Sound System Remix)’ and ‘Faded (DJ Digital Dub Remix)’ are representations of the reggae-funk element of Tiki. The former is an honest track with meaningful and relevant lyrics which really uncover this complex artist. The latter is an example of a track which, if possible, exceeds the original by adding an exceptional bass line.The album closes with the very fitting track ‘Sleep Whisperer (Pitch Black Remix).’ It holds the sentimentality and the summation of the journey that the album is.

The strongpoint of this album is its flow. It works like three Acts in a play. The second track to the fifth track is the intense and dark Act I. Tracks six to twelve are electronic heavy providing the dance-based Act II. Tracks thirteen and fourteen make the urban Act III. These sections represent the dimensions of Tiki, this multi-faceted and multi-talented musician and producer. You can hear elements from his electronic collaborations, his work with Salmonella Dub, traditional Maori hymn and even New Zealand politics.

This is a deep and thoughtful album which, for those who have not already purchased Tiki’s Past Present Future, you should absolutely hear Flux. If you already have Past Present Future then it is even more essential to get it, as Flux works complementary to the original. It feels as if Flux was part of the master plan of this project from the beginning, as if the title Past Present Future was some sort of foretelling from Tiki. Flux is the future. The future is Flux.
-By Janise.

Tiki Taane was born in Otautahi or Christchurch on 17 December 1976. His father Uekaha is of Ngati Maniapoto descent, while his mother Lyn is of English and Scottish heritage – the McDuff clan. The third child of 4, Tiki was preceded by 2 sisters – Maureen Aroha, Ninakaye and then followed by his baby brother Anaru Kune, from Ngati Kahungunu and Taranaki.

Raised most of his life in Otautahi, Tiki spent his school years at Heathcote Valley School, Shirley Boys’ College and then changed to Linwood High School in his 4th Form year. Soon losing interest in his school education, Tiki began spending time on the streets, getting up to mischief and having many close calls with the law. In the early 90’s, at a crucial time where Tiki was considering some very downward-spiralling pathways, his father Uekaha gave him a classical acoustic guitar. To this day, that guitar can be seen as the vehicle through which Tiki’s life took on a powerful new purpose.

Tiki’s new guitar never left his side as he taught himself to play – listening to and then mimicking riffs and chords from the likes of Metallica, Megadeth and others. It wasn’t long before he was composing his own guitar tracks, lyrics, bass guitar and drum tracks too. Fronting his first band Cultivation at the age of 15, Tiki was joined by drummer Richard Dale, bass guitarist Mike and guitarist and backing vocalist Jason Young (of Future Stupid, Loves Ugly Children and Excellent Soul Therapy fame).

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Tiki Taane

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