Hote’ Hote’

Now based in Melbourne, Charles Maimarosia hails from the Solomon Islands, and first came to international attention over 20 years ago as the leader of the vibrant Narasirato Pan Pipers, from the village of Pipisu in southern Malaita. Since leaving that group in 2010, he’s established a solo career in Australia; released his debut solo EP Are’Are’ in 2016; joined the original pan-Pacific/Indian Ocean project Small Island Big Song; and toured regularly. Hote’ Hote’ (connected to voyaging on the sea) is his first full-length album and it’s a cracker. Beautifully produced by Andrew Robinson, who doubles on programming, it features Maimarosia’s strong but gentle vocals, panpipes, guitar and ukulele, along with sympathetic backing musicians. Singing in his native Are’Are’ language, the title-track recalls epic navigations of the ancient Oceanians, the use of stars as maps, and the resulting explorations and migrations of Pacific peoples. Maimarosia’s reimagined ‘Roropau’ adapts a traditional poem into an evocative mother-child lullaby, underlining the soothing power of song, while ‘Manu Ki’ is an energetic instrumental that blends rhythmic guitar with breathy panpipe. Sublime and emotionally moving, Hote’ Hote’ is a success on every level.