Following the success of their Platinum selling and Aria Nominated Debut Album, Vika and Linda have recently recorded their eagerly awaited second album. Princess Tabu is the new Vika and Linda album, which sees the respected duo taking further control of their own unique musical direction.

Combining uplifting vocals and fiesty melodies, Vika and Linda draw upon their Tongan heritage to create a sound that is a contemporary mix of their Australian and Tongan experiences. Unlike their previous album, this work was largely co-written by Vika and Linda along with music heavy weights such as Tim Finn, Diesel, Paul Kelly and percussionist Michael Barker. The album was co-produced by Vika and Linda, along with Diesel and English producer/engineer Jeremy Allom who has worked extensively in the UK with artists such as Massive Attack, Pete Townsend, Bobby Brown and Chaka Chan.

"We didn't want to make a rock album or a county album this time around, but one with a bit of a Tongan feel," says Vika. "The music from the Pacific has always been an inspiration for us. When we were in New Zealand last year, we were struck by the different mix of cultures. When we performed at the WOMAD festivals in Spain and England, we saw musicians mixing it up with different feels. We also spent a bit of time with Tim Finn recently and he is into Pacific cultures. He helped draw out our Tongan side".

Some of the musical family featured on the album are Michael Barker on drums and percussion, Bruce Haymes on piano and various guitars from Stuart Fraser, Jeff Burstin, Diesel and Michael Den Elzen. Russel Smith and Paul Williamson provided brass and Helen Mountford and Hope Csutoros from My Friend The Chocolate Cake provided strings.

Before the recording commenced Vika and Linda took their band to their ancestral home in the Kingdom of Tonga. Having grown up in Melbourne with the influences of Tongan harmonies, guitar and drum sounds, Vika and Linda were keen to let their band experience this. The recordings were made in Tonga, Melbourne and Sydney and the album released will in Australia and New Zealand in July 1996. Partly recorded in Tonga and completed at Periscope studio in Melbourne, the girls visit to their mother's home was essential for capturing the intoxicating harmonies and rhythms of the islands.

Although some of the songs have a distinctly Pacific percussion feel the album remains typically diverse with its constants being themes incorporating the restorative power of love, the strength of friendship, the importance of family the escapism of the dream state, the individuality of women and a prolific amount of water imagery.