Tempo Valley

Alright, kids. If you are interested in hip-hop beats, Massive Attack-like rhythms, dream-like-state guitar melodies, and a look into Local Hawaiian hip-hop, then give Tempo Valley a listen. To me they remind me a lot of Morcheeba. Made in Hawaii, under the same tropical sun that sweetens the pineapples, and sugar-cane, these tracks are sure to be just as sweet, if not even sweeter. Don't take my word for it. Go to www.tempovalley.com and have a listen.
- redhot chilipeppers/blog

"Welcome to the Tempo ... Tempo Valley."....
And so goes another Saturday night of Honolulu-based music collective Tempo Valley working its atmospheric, otherworldly melange of downtempo hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul, trip-hop, slightly psychedelic world beat and occasional oddball sonics.

Wicked inventive, funky eclectic and trippy original, the music of Tempo Valley showcases a gathering of musicians who have gained a loyal, growing grass-roots following. It's also a gathering of musicians about to release its first collection of music, "Memoirs of the Tempo" — unfinished versions of which have been passed around enough in the last year to earn Tempo Valley that growing grass-roots following.

"Everything's all right. Everything's OK," sings Cua, on "All Right," as the jazz minds — mostly folks in their 20s and 30s — sink into their seats and let the music wash over them. It's the only sound of its kind in Honolulu — think elements of The Roots meets Massive Attack meets Portishead meets Erykah Badu. And it's a pretty sweet listen.

Tempo Valley earned its audience mostly through word-of-mouth, handing out free CDs of tracks from its "Memoirs" disc as it was still being recorded and posting fliers for the gigs it did in 2006. The band passed tracks to KTUH DJs and streamed all of its music on its Web site and MySpace. In January, Tempo Valley locked in its weekly Jazz Minds gig, which now draws a near full-house on Saturdays.

"It's a real intimate setting, and I think that our CD is really intimate," Carroll said.

Added Cua, laughing: "And it's right next to Femme Nu!"

"It's like a little haven in the middle of a crazy Babylon," said Rosales. "It's a warm environment. It feels cultured.

FOR THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK ON THE LINK...

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704130306 - Honolulu Advertiser April 13 2007

The atmosphere on Saturday is particularly relaxing because Tempo Valley puts on an exhilarating show that doesn’t get in your face. Fronted by emcee Seph 1 and songstress/poet Paisley and backed by trippy guitar lines, flexible bass riffs, steady hip-hop beats, haunting samples and extraordinary cello harmonies, the group keeps the club alive while still providing a warmth that makes you want to lean back, close your eyes and dream of a sunny Parisian day. 


http://honoluluweekly.com/calendar/nightshift/2007/06/up-the-tempo/ - The Honolulu Weekly

From the Windward side of O’ahu, home of the beautiful “Temple Valley” comes a sweet homegrown harvest. The musical collective Tempo Valley is a blend of sounds including accoustic guitar, reggae, hiphop, mellowed out trippy beats, ethereal female vocals and poetry.

“No samples, all original music, all local born,” explains Eugene, the producer and passionate spokesman for the band, who evolved their music through “freeform kanikapila musical jam sessions.”

Nearly all of their forthcoming album, “Tempo Valley Presents: Valley of the Tempo” is available online through links on their website tempovalley.com.



- Quad Mag